After a nasty broken leg cost him his football career, Gavin Ritchie decided to try something completely new, and it has paid off.
Gavin, 24, and his wife Nicola, also 24, now run Pizza B. Goode in Glasgow, serving Napoli-style pizza from their vintage Piaggio Van. It comes after the young footballer was left without a club at the age of 19 after a broken leg ruled him out for the season.
After his release from Dundee United in 2019, Gavin spent more time at his home in Perth and found himself enjoying daytime cooking shows, seeing an advertisement for an Ooni pizza oven which sparked an exciting idea.
After purchasing the Ooni, Gavin began to enjoy the process and became quite good at making quality pizzas. His wife Nicola, who was studying at university at the time, joined in as soon as she could and the young couple started making pizzas for family and friends.
READ MORE: UFC star in Glasgow for Celtic vs Rangers praises ‘incredible atmosphere’ at Hampden Park
READ MORE: A Glasgow man is determined to keep the dream of climbing 282 Munros alive despite being diagnosed with Parkinson’s
During lockdown in 2020, Gavin and Nicola started selling pizzas from their driveway before turning their side hustle into a full-fledged business.
Speak with Glasgow Live Speaking about his move from professional footballer to pizza chef, Gavin said: “I broke my leg in the last year of my contract with Dundee United, so I wasn’t actually offered a new contract. I didn’t think part-time work was for me at the time, I wanted to work for play a first team.
“While I was getting injured I had my whole leg in a cast so I spent more time at home watching TV and the only thing on during the day was cooking shows so I really started getting into it. I saw a ad for Ooni Pizza Ovens, so I bought one and started making them at home.
“We started selling them to friends and family, then set up a small Instagram account before selling them to the public from our driveway in lockdown.
“Coming from professional sports, I had no cooking background, I caught the bug and went for it. Luckily the pizzas are better now than they were in the beginning!”
The fantastic duo made a local hit for themselves – Gavin would make the pizzas while Nicola would deliver them, with Gavin saying it was very “DIY” at first.
The couple then bought a van and “outfitted it” to sell pizzas, which were a big hit at Perth farmers’ markets. They continued to host private events before moving to Glasgow.
Since Nicola is originally from Hamilton, the couple decided to make the move to the big city in 2021 before getting married in August that year.
They quickly transitioned to full-time jobs at Pizza B. Goode, now a popular food truck at the city’s Dockyard Social. The team trades on site every weekend and also occasionally does private events.
Gavin talked about life in the hospitality sector post-Covid, when inflation skyrocketed and the cost of living hit many local businesses. The young businessman owes his success to low prices, fresh ingredients and building a loyal fan base.
Gavin says: “Our margins have tightened due to the cost of living, but we have continued to use the best ingredients from our suppliers because we believe that is what keeps you going and keeps customers coming back.
Join Glasgow Live’s WhatsApp community here and get the latest news straight to your messages.
“That, and we’ve kept our prices low despite rising costs, £8 for a margherita is as cheap as it gets these days – people come because it’s a cheaper alternative to eating in a restaurant.”
New research from payments company SumUp has found that pressure is even greater on outdoor food suppliers – with the sector growing ten times slower than the traditional restaurant industry over the past two years.
Corin Camenisch, Product Marketing Lead at SumUp says: “Gavin’s story is a great example of how technology has lowered the barriers to entry for small business owners, allowing anyone to set up a business in minutes.
“Lockdown offered people the opportunity to turn their side activities into a full-fledged business. SumUp’s mission is to give entrepreneurs the tools to pursue their passions, regardless of their situation.
“As the business landscape proves increasingly treacherous for SMEs, who face a host of challenges including late payment cycles, rising energy costs and supply chain issues, technology can play a key role in supporting their business journey and providing of support.”
For more information about Pizza B. Goode, visit here.
Sign up for our daily Glasgow Live newsletter here to receive news and features straight to your inbox