An Argyll & Bute-based business offering fresh, made-to-order pizzas has found remarkable success after the owner received specialised start-up assistance from Business Gateway.
Dace McLellan launched Rolling Pizza in December 2023, designing the business to accommodate her two young children. She converted an old horse box into a van with a wood-fired oven, enabling her to cook pizzas from any location. The van travels throughout the region, appearing at events and maintaining regular pitches at venues like Kilmartin Hotel and holiday parks.
When starting the business last year, Dace approached Business Gateway for support. Her local adviser, Donald Melville, helped her secure start-up funding and provided advice on cash flow forecasting. With the foundations in place, Rolling Pizza is now thriving.
Recently, she implemented an online booking system, enabling visitors at select sites to pre-book their orders and select a pick-up time. This system guarantees her business for each pitch and provides an estimate of the ingredients needed, although she always brings extra for walk-in customers.
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The pre-order system has proven popular with customers, with the van selling out on many occasions. Dace McLellan, the owner of Rolling Pizza, said: “Donald and the team at Business Gateway were a huge support to me when setting up Rolling Pizza and have continued to be now we’re up and running.
“The online system has been great for encouraging people to pre-order and gives me an indication of potential earnings, and I couldn’t have done that without Business Gateway.
“Being in a rural area can often make it more difficult to find business support, but Donald has been a fantastic help, and I really appreciate his guidance.”
Donald Melville, the Business Gateway adviser, said: “Dace has been doing so well, especially considering she began just a few months ago. She has got a great set-up, and we’ve been happy to support her on her journey and provide her with advice that’s been key to starting and growing her business.”
Business Gateway provides professional resources, support, and tools to help Scottish businesses grow, offering new skills, opportunities, and strategies for sustainable growth. Delivered by local authorities across Scotland, it collaborates with organisations like Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise to advise businesses, with grants and expert assistance funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
