About Me

Sushma Solanki, born & brought up in Nairobi/Kenya. I moved to Bolton in 1995. 

Worked in the corporate world of travel for 31 years & after changes in family circumstances I decided to fulfil my dream and that’s where Sushma’snacks came into operation in Nov 2016.  With the support of Family and friends, I started off with smaller events such as anniversaries, birthdays do’s and then focused was teaching people to cook from scratch. 

I had attend the Business start-up course with the Manchester Growth Hub as I had no idea of how to turn a hobby into my day job, attending Social media & finance/business setup training.  The follow up course which really built my confidence/gave me the boost needed was “Popup Business” that Bolton at Home organised.  I learnt how to set my own website & how to do more sales & marketing. My confidence was growing daily. I started to attend lots of networking events that gave me contacts and opportunities to build my business profile.

An objective I set was that I wanted adults and children to learn the art of healthy cooking as it’s a misconception that Indian food is difficult and can be unhealthy. To teach people that it’s not difficult and with the right steps and you put your heart in it you will be surprised what you can create.

On one occasion, I was asked by a friend if I can cater for a Macmillan coffee cocktails evening with canapés that would take them into the next morning.  I put my thinking cap on and created an English breakfast on a stick (that everyone is still talking about) as well as other different snacks to help them all through the night. It went down a storm and that’s the moment I thought, “this is could be start of a good thing” and the orders kept coming in.   

I absolutely love what I do. Creativity is my strong point and I love being challenged in different areas.

When I started the business, I wasn’t sure how well it would take off as it was a very different concept and food. Today when I walk into a room and someone sees my name badge they say we have heard a lot about your food.  I am now known all over the North West and not just Bolton which makes me very proud of what I have achieved in this short time.

In Mar18 I did my first biggest event at the Macron Stadium with 1Events media (1EM) where we had over 773 people walk through the door and Sushma’Snacks in conjunction with 1EM provided free breakfast and Lunch to everyone who walked through the door.  The feed back is still coming in from (1EM) that the event is remembered mainly for the food.

Through networking, I did a Sleep out for the homeless in April 17, which made me really understand the plight they go through & I volunteer every Sunday evening 6-7pm to feed & cloth them.  I don’t do this alone it’s done with a wonderful team. I also volunteer for a few other organisations; Girl Guiding leader & Growing Guiding coordinator & the Bolton Interfaith Council.

I was nominated in Feb17 Women in Enterprise @ the WIN inspirational women awards & took part in the Bolton College MasterChef competition in the same year.

I was a Finalist for 2 consecutive years for Eva Awards years 2018/19

Awared Queen of Canapes in  June 2018

Won Influential Businesswoman  and Most Successful Foodservice SME Owner – North West England in June 2019

Won Bolton New Family business award winners October 2019

I still have a very long way to go. This year I have been nominated in 3 categories in the Inspire women’s awards – Anna Kinley Interfaith award, Entrepreneur & Start Up & Women in Hospitality  results on 5^th May18 

Finally, the icing on the cake was to be picked by Theo Paphitis for his #SBS award (Small Business Sunday) on 2^nd April 18