Here are 10 female-owned businesses to support across Northampton in 2024, which the Chronicle & Echo has been lucky to interview during the first month of the year.
Our commitment to supporting local and independent businesses has never been stronger, and it has become clear just how many women have decided to start ventures in areas they are passionate about.
From a luxury soft furnishings brand to making afternoon teas accessible anywhere, the following female-owned businesses deserve your support this year as they continue to go from strength to strength.
If you admire a female-owned business that you would like to see featured in the Chronicle & Echo, email [email protected].
5. Sugar and Spice Bakes
Sugar and Spice Bakes, located in Brixworth, offer home-baked treat gift boxes – spanning brownies, blondies, tiffins, cookies and their signature millionaire’s shortbread. The boxes are designed around sharing and each tray-baked treat comes in two handy portions. The flavours rotate on a weekly basis to allow customers to try something new. Vicky Souster founded the business in April 2021, after she decided not to return to her former job when her maternity leave ended. Photo: Sugar and Spice Bakes
6. Number 50 Tea Room
Number 50 Tea Room, in Main Road, Duston, first opened in 2017 and celebrated its seven-year milestone at the start of the month. When the tea room went up for sale all those years ago, Jodie Roberts saw the perfect opportunity to try something new and has not looked back since. Having previously worked in a letting agents, Jodie decided to go for it and step into the world of cake and coffee – despite not knowing anything about it. The business is now deemed the extended living room of the community. Photo: Number 50 Tea Room
7. Teddy’s Dog Care
Teddy’s Dog Care, in Newport Pagnell Road, was founded by Michelle Wilson in 2010 after she adopted her pug Teddy – who inspired her to expand her love and care to more dogs across the county. Teddy’s hosts a number of themed events throughout the year to allow owners to get involved – as usually they drop their pets off and the staff get to do what they deem as the best job in the world. The business’ take on a Coachella festival for dogs, named ‘Pugchella’, is a particular hit among pet owners. Photo: Kirsty Edmonds
8. Fashion Bake
Fashion Bake brought frozen homemade dumplings and bao buns to the town at a time when no one else was offering them. The products, which are available to shop in meal kits, can be cooked quickly from home or shopped fresh when Fashion Bake attends events in their food van. The business is the brainchild of Jessica Ly, who started this journey in March 2020 when she was made redundant from a job in London. As dumplings were a staple in her household, Jessica knew there was the potential to sell them frozen for others to enjoy as much as she did. Photo: Fashion Bake