Each week, the Gazette takes to the streets to unearth something being manufactured right here in Hackney. This week we visit The Happy Tummy Co’s bakery in London Fields
Karen O’Donoghue has turned what she dubs a “mad science experiment” into a commercial brand of fermented, probiotic, gluten-free, organic loaves and scones, endorsed by iconic actress Goldie Hawn.
The 31-year-old from Ireland started fermenting seeds and grains together in her Rushmore Road kitchen seven years ago, spurred on to create a product to help deal with the IBS she was born with.
Doing maths to get the right ratio of soluble to insoluble and prebiotic fibres, it took her 18 months to get it right.
By 2015 word got out and she was driving around delivering to people’s homes. But then Shoreditch House caught whiff and invited her to give a talk to a crowd of 200.
“Everyone wanted to buy some and said it was life-changing, so the next day I set up the company,” said Karen.
The Happy Tummy Co is now pumping out 160 loaves a day in bakeries in Hemsley Place, London Fields and Battersea.
With plans to soon upscale to 1,000 loaves a day, she feels “2018 is our year”.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here