Rachael Laidler (on right) accepting Feature Entrepreneur award at Sons of Kent in Chatham. December 13, 2017. (Photo by Sarah Cowan Blackburn News Chatham-Kent). Rachael Laidler (on right) accepting Feature Entrepreneur award at Sons of Kent in Chatham. December 13, 2017. (Photo by Sarah Cowan Blackburn News Chatham-Kent).
Chatham

Chatham Woman Offers Home-Cooked Meals At Takeout Convenience

A Chatham entrepreneur offering home-cooked meals at takeout convenience and prices says the community has taken her in with open arms.

Rachael Laidler started her business Fuel 4 You just over a year ago. She says she offers fresh takeout meals daily, including fresh soups, hand-made burgers, hand-cut fries, and other pub-style foods. She says her menu changes every week and is always updated on her Facebook page.

"We're getting to be a busy society and not having time to cook at home. [I] offer something where you can be a little healthier. Everything being home cooked is better than just stopping and McDonalds or ordering a pizza. Keeping the prices affordable also makes it easier for families," says Laidler.

Laidler says the community has been very supportive of her business.

"I'm finding that people are noticing that I'm here and I'm getting quite busy. I'm at the point now where I'm actually hiring an employee to be able to help me keep up with the demand. I do catering as well, so that's something that does take up a lot of my time. Catering, plus having the restaurant open, and doing the takeout meals is a lot for one person," says Laidler.

She says she has always wanted to work in the food industry.

"I've always been working in telemarketing and call centres. I did go into the contest called Dining in the Den. It was their first year of doing it and I won second prize, which gave me the money to actually start the business that I've been wanting to do for a very long time," says Laidler.

Laidler was recently recognized as a Feature Entrepreneur at an event hosted by the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce and Chatham-Kent Workforce Planning Board. She encourages people to follow their dreams like she did.

"If anyone is thinking about doing a business and they're scared, I say just do the jump and jump right into it. Fear can hold you back, it can be fear of success or fear of failure... don't let that hold you back," says Laidler.

Fuel 4 You is located at 34 Byng Ave. inside the Kent-Belgian-Dutch-Canadian Club in Chatham.

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