Monthly Maidstone Spotlight – Global Fresh Supply
This month we caught up with Tunde Daczo, owner of fresh produce import and export business, Global Fresh Supply. Since starting out herself, Tunde has dedicated a lot of time to using her skills and experience to supporting other fledgling businesses.
Tunde, your business imports produce from all over the world – tell us how it all started.
When I left my corporate job at an importer company, I decided I wanted to start my own venture. I set up a small consultancy, Third Eye Procurement, importing fruit from areas such as Northern Europe and South America. In 2023, I was approached by a group from Egypt who wanted me to market their fresh products for them and the company grew to become Global Fresh Supply, which is now my main business.
What kind of businesses do you work with?
I mainly import and supply fresh fruits and vegetables, such as grapes, citrus, avocados and fruit salads for supermarket packers and foodservice who providing products to retail such as Sainsbury’s and M&S
You’re one of the longest-standing tenants at the Business Terrace – around 5 years. What do you like about it?
I’ve been living in Maidstone a long time, since 2000, but I first found the Business Terrace when I came here to a mentoring session with the Kent Foundation. They showed me around and I liked what I saw so decided to take up a hot desk, then a shared office, and now I rent my own office.
It can be quite isolating working alone, even in a shared office but here, it’s not like that at all. It’s a real community that brings businesses together. There’s always lots going on; we have a get together on the last Friday of every month, there are always events in the conference room which you can attend for free and there’s so much help available such as with finance and marketing. If you ever have an issue with say, a loan, funding or legal services, the team here is always there to give guidance.
How has being at the Business Terrace supported your business?
Chris, the business advisor, has always been so helpful, particularly during Covid when she directed me to speak to some of the right contacts at the banks for funding.
Also, another member of the team was involved with Kent County Council and she invited me to a Department of Business and Trade export round table meeting with Helen Grant, a government minister at the time – I would never have got anywhere near someone like that if I wasn’t here! It was such a great opportunity.
You mentioned working at the Kent Foundation as a mentor – tell us about that.
Yes, I’ve actually been part of the Kent Foundation since 2017, as a mentor for young people aged under 30 in business, mostly start-ups, which I love doing. I help them by directing them to the right support, and helping to keep them motivated. I really enjoy it – it’s so nice to help people to change their lives.
More recently, I also successfully applied for a role with the Business Loan Advisory Group helping to allocate loans to businesses from government funding provided to Kent County Council. The council assesses applicants for eligibility and then once a month, those businesses present their plans and ideas to us, the board members, and we decide which may receive a loan. It’s so interesting – it feels a bit like Dragon’s Den!
Both of these roles are voluntary and I love that they’re connected to Kent and my local area – it’s great to feel I’m giving something back.
What has been your greatest challenge as a business owner?
The hardest part was starting up alone – when everything is new and you have so many questions but you don’t have a partner as a soundboard, you can feel that you’re in the dark. That’s why being at the Business Terrace was so important; there are a lot of likeminded people here, and they’re all so inspiring.
What’s next for the business?
There is still a lot to come and lots to do. I intend to expand and strengthen the presence in Europe which is not easy since Brexit, but full of exciting opportunities. In order to succeed, the team needs to expand and so I will be looking to take on more staff.
What advice would you give to someone else starting out?
Find a supportive community. When you’re working at home, on your own, it’s difficult to grow and develop yourself – you need that soundboard. And get help from a professional; there’s so much support available and so much of it is free, like the Business Terrace and The Kent Foundation.
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