This week Paul Bradley catches up with Angela McGlanaghey, Store Manager at Simple Simon’s Restaurant in Donegal Town. She says business is good, and people now care more than ever about what they eat.
Hi Angela, how are you these days?
Hi Paul I’m good thank you, life is busy but great!
How is business in Simple Simon’s?
Business, thank God is great. We had a great summer and it’s great to see so many tourists visiting.
We are facing challenges of course, like all businesses we’ve had to deal with the recent VAT increase in our sector, supply issues and costs are constantly rising but we are thankful for all of our fantastic customers for the opportunity to keep going.
Simple Simon’s seems to have been expanded and reinvented in the last few years. Was that a response to visible demand, or a bit of a punt (hoping that there would be demand)?
Sort of a bit of both Paul. We had a small seating area in our deli area but there was always a demand for more seating options and we were limited to what we could produce in the deli so now we have a bigger kitchen and are able to expand our menu and offer more options.
It’s been a success so far and we are thankful for the opportunity to be able to expand our range and have more options for our customers.
Have customer demands or appetites changed as well? Are people more interested in fresher, more natural foods than we were, say, ten years ago?
We are noticing particularly since Covid that people are beginning to care an awful lot more about what they eat and we try to source as much as possible from local suppliers – vegetables, fruit, meat etc – because people truly do want to shop local and eat local. They are also realising the importance of vitamins and the difference they can make to your wellbeing.
What about vegetarianism and meat substitutes? There was quite a move towards “imitation meat” for a year or two, but I read lately that the demand seems to have peaked, and people are moving back towards meat. Is that something you would see?
The problem with meat substitutes is that oftentimes they are highly processed and don’t have much nutritional value. We serve a few vegan dishes in our restaurant but instead we try to focus on using fresh ingredients, hearty vegetables or our homemade falafels and flatbread.
Presumably a health food shop gets a lot more questions about food and ingredients and special diets than a regular grocery shop does. Is that difficult to cater for? How do you keep up with all the information and developments in the industry?
Yes, a lot of our customers are people who have been told they have to change their diet or want to try something new.
A lot of times people are told what to do but they are thrown in at the deep end without any knowledge. That’s where we come in! All of our senior staff who work in the health food shop have years of experience and knowledge and have all completed additional diplomas and staff training to ensure we provide the best and safest advice we can.
Is it getting harder to source your ingredients and supplies?
Some items are becoming near impossible to get which can be really disruptive. Other items are still available but the cost price has skyrocketed so we’ve had to discontinue certain things as they are too expensive to sell.
Some alternative health foods and products hit the market with unproven claims or “sciency”-sounding messages that don’t mean very much. Is there a way of guarding against that kind of bogus marketing?
We just try to be honest with customers when they come in with queries. A lot of people assume that if something is a “natural” product then it’s safe to take, but so many things have contraindications and can cause problems if taken with other medications.
It’s always best to check with your health care practitioner before starting something new. And unfortunately with social platforms there are a lot of unchecked “health claims”, some of which are downright dangerous. We try to educate our customers as best we can.
It’s a small team at Simple Simon’s, but I would guess a lot of repeat customers. Does it feel like a “local” for people, somewhere where customers can relax and even become friends?
We have to say we have the BEST customers around and a lot of them have become close friends of ours, which is something we are really proud of. We try to create a nice relaxed vibe as best we can and make people feel comfortable.
I seem to remember there was once a Simple Simon’s in Letterkenny too. Was that connected, and are there any plans for further expansion in the future?
It was connected to a previous owner before the boss Finbar, but we never say never! Maybe someday Simple Simon’s will become global!
Is it just a job? Or is that kind of healthier living something you aspire to in your personal life as well?
No, definitely not just a job for me! I used to be very overweight years ago and when I trained my fitness and eating habits it turned my life around. I ran a marathon a few years ago, still run for fun and do a lot of sea swimming year-round.
My diet can slip from time to time but there’s definitely a massive connection between eating good and feeling good, so as long as I’ve got some balance that’s half the battle.
You read a lot – is that mainly for education or for pleasure? Who do you read? Has Stephen King lost the plot in the last decade?
I read lots of books and have since I was a child, mostly for pleasure but occasional books for work or on supplements etc. Stephen King has DEFINITELY not lost the plot! I read his new book last week and thoroughly enjoyed it. He’s still a master storyteller. I’m part of a local book club who took part in RTE’s Page Turners this year and a second series is in the works. I’m looking forward to that!
Quick fire
The book or the film?
Always, always the book is better than the film!
What do you look for most in a friend?
Someone who matches my energy.
Favourite kind of night (in with the telly, out with friends, etc)?
Me and my husband Jason love a good true crime documentary and a glass of wine but I’m also partial to the odd mad night out.
What angers you?
People telling me I can’t do something, because you can bet I’m gonna go right ahead and do it.
Do you have a motto you try to live by?
If you’re going through hell, keep going. Things are never as bad as they seem and no matter how many times you fail, never give up.
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