Northampton man's hugely successful DIY pizza which launched during lockdown and led him to leave long term job

Ben has launched a successful street food pizza van this year.

A Northampton man who had worked in the same job for more than two decades has branched out with a successful pizza business after inspiration hit during lockdown.

Ben Green from Boughton worked as a buyer for Thackerays, in Wellingborough Road, for the last 23 years and was ‘happy and secure’.

After a taste of the hospitality life last year and a helping hand from lockdown this year, the dad-of-two has set now up The Dough Dept. - a pizza businesses that has proven extremely popular.

Ben with his wife Natalie and their two children Alice and Rex.

Last summer, Ben helped out his next door neighbour who owns a street food business and ‘absolutely loved’ the work, so much so that he returned home and told his wife straight away that he wanted to start a food vendor company.

Two weeks later, Ben bought a horse box, began fixing it up with his dad to make it into a street food pizza van and then also enrolled in a three-day dough making course.

However, it was only when the first national lockdown hit earlier this year when Ben began his business, which took off immediately.

The 39-year-old said: “I was on furlough from work and I saw that one of my friends from my dough making course had started doing DIY kits.

The DIY kits have been immensely popular during both lockdowns.

“He was doing amazing business with it and it was becoming a trend and I was at home a lot with my wife telling me I needed to do something, so I started looking into it.

“The DIY kits were a great idea at the right time especially as the van wasn’t quite ready.”

The company received 70 orders within the first week of launching DIY kits, which include enough dough - made by Ben - for two pizzas and two dough balls, as well as the sauce, cheeses and specific toppings.

Ben says 95 percent of his trade comes from his Instagram, so he was expecting most orders to come from ‘Insta mums’ who love to do different activities with their children, but he was surprised by the variety of orders.

Ben added: “A lot of people were at home with children and wanted to do something different.

“This is something enjoyable and the value is pretty good too.

“But we had a lot of orders from couples and families with grown up children too.

“It’s a nice alternative to buying a Dominoes or shop bought pizza, I personally deliver throughout Northampton and I think a lot of people are trying their hardest to support their local businesses.”

After the first lockdown ended, Ben did go back to work at Thackery’s, but has now left to focus on the pizza business.

“I went back for four days a week and I did the pizza business for the other three,” Ben continued.

“Then they wanted me back full time but I couldn’t do it.

“I walked away from a secure job I have been at for 23 years but the fear of failing was less important than the fear of regret and not taking the business as far as I could."

Focusing on the business, Ben completed the van and hosted a couple of pop up events on his driveway for hot pizza before the second lockdown was introduced.

As the restrictions are due to end next week, Ben has also got two weekly pop up locations planned in and will also continue to take DIY kit orders.

One pop up will be held on Friday nights at Grange Park Community Centre car park and the other will be on Saturday nights at White’s Farm in Earls Barton.

Ben is also booked for a number of events and weddings next year, which he is hopeful will all go ahead.

To find out more and to place an order, visit The Dough Dept. website or search the business name on Facebook or Instagram.

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