A Lynn family have joined forces to open a new business, offering healthier alternatives for those wanting to improve their lifestyle.
John and Cathy Gladwin follow a keto diet, a high-fat, low-carb eating plan which avoids sugar, and say they have felt enormous health benefits.
Cathy, a biotechnologist and nutritionist who has been working for 30 years in the food industry, then decided to venture out and create her own food range, Finally Keto.
Cathy and Matthew Gladwin are at the helm
The business, which is run by Cathy, John and their son Matthew, makes and sells “clean” products on a small scale, including sugar alternatives, bread, ingredients, supplements and more.
Last year, the Gladwins moved into a unit on Bryggen Road on the North Lynn Industrial Estate and renovated it, complete with a bakery, chocolate and freeze-drying machines.
Cathy told the Lynn News they plan to expand their products, which are sold online, in the future, and said many people do not know about their business.
Cathy with a sugar alternative and salt
She is also a director for Sirius Training and Certifications and Nuwe Solutions, which offers coaching and training for food manufacturers.
“For years, I thought it would be lovely to do something like this myself,” she said.
“At the moment, we are trying a little bit of lots of things. We want people to come and see what we do and learn how things are freeze-dried.”
While Cathy says the sugar alternatives Finally Keto makes are great for diabetics, she said making a switch can bring many health benefits.
Finally Keto’s baking station
“The only rule we have here is everything we make is low-carb and keto,” she said.
“Our products do not have an impact on your sugar levels. We want to help people, and many of them say they could never follow a keto diet.
“We still have nice things like cakes, but just made with natural ingredients, which are better for you. People are saving themselves by making the switch.
Freeze-drying takes place at Finally Keto
“I have been researching health for all my life. You can still eat really well and avoid certain foods.”
John added: “We look back to when people used to smoke in hospital wards and now think ‘what were they doing?’
“People will look at sugar in the same way, and say ‘why didn’t we stop taking this sooner?’”
A number of products are on offer at Finally Keto
Matthew explained that, while people are generally aware that sugar can be bad for you, they are unaware of some of the potential risks to their physical health.
“It also has an impact on your mental health and wellbeing,” he added.
Finally Keto uses locally grown ingredients where possible, including from Norfolk Blueberries, while also avoiding processed foods.
It also offers salt harvested from ancient caves in Portugal, which Cathy says does not contain the microplastics that the sea currently does.
As well as this, it offers unique ingredients which are said to bring positive health benefits, including black garlic, which is made through a slow ageing process.
A total of eight different types of sugar alternatives are on offer
John added: “Cathy started this from scratch, and everything is done here. We make it, design the packaging and package everything.
“We do make a lot of sales, but we have noticed that not many of our customers are in Lynn. We do offer a click and collect service.
“We are hoping to join in and have a stall at an upcoming Merchants Market on the Tuesday Market Place.”
Items are freeze-dried in this machine
Cathy explained that, when they first started moving into the building in July, it needed a lot of work.
“We have just started to get going now,” she said.
“It is nice to have a physical building and the opportunity it brings and to employ local people. We want to give people who are lonely the chance to get out the house to do a little job.
“I cannot tell you the amount of hours we put into this business, as well as making sure we are using ethical packaging and less plastic.”
In the future, Cathy, John and Matthew want to open Finally Keto’s base up for schoolchildren to see how their products are made, with members of the public welcome to visit as well.