My Big Idea #74 – how to set up a healthy breakfast brand

Creator of healthy breakfast range Qnola, young British female entrepreneur Danielle Copperman talks to ASOS editor at large Danielle Radojcin about how she’s gone from modelling (at ASOS, no less!) to wowing the food industry with her super-nutritious quinoa-based granola. And, at the age of just 23, Danielle has managed to get Qnola stocked at the likes of Waitrose and Selfridges, while still maintaining a successful modelling career.Originally hoping to study nutrition at university, Danielle needed a science A-level. As a result, she taught herself a biology A-level, viewing her studies as a back-up if modelling didn’t work out. In fact, Danielle gained regular bookings – frequently at ASOS – so she didn’t go to university, but instead has since studied for a diploma in nutrition, alongside writing a food blog, modelmangetout.com. Having eliminated gluten from her diet, Qnola was born out of Danielle’s desire to fuel up on a quick-but-healthy gluten-free granola as she went from model casting to model casting.Initially testing out recipes with family, her fellow models and Instagram followers, they inspired Danielle to develop Qnola as a product. Qnola was first launched in 2014 at fellow My Big Idea interviewee Lily Simpson’s Detox Kitchen deli, and the product soon drew an impressive following, as well as the attention of retailers such as Waitrose. With a projected turnover of £300k this year, Danielle is hoping to grow the Qnola team, and is looking for international stockists, notably in the US, as well as keeping up with her modelling career. Here’s Danielle’s big idea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.