Local entrepreneur Natasha Orumbie, founder of The Vegan Patty Lady, has been named Best New Business at the Lewisham Awards, an honour that reflects her passion, determination, and creativity in bringing sustainable plant-based patties to the local community.

The Lewisham Awards, held last week, showcased the talent and dedication of several Grow London Local-supported businesses, with finalists and winners across multiple categories, including:

Best New Business: The Vegan Patty Lady – Winner
Best Online Business: Pat and Pinky’s – Finalist
Best Community Contribution: 360 Lifestyle Support Network- Finalist
Best Independent High Street Business: Petit Village, Genny’s Emporium – Finalist
Best Restaurant: Vegan Flavours – Finalist
Best Independent Food Retailer: Petit Village – Finalist
Best Independent Business: Promoting Our Heritage, Salters Events – Finalist

While many shone brightly, The Vegan Patty Lady stood out, not only for her award win but also for her inspiring journey of resilience and determination.

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Natasha Orumbie, founder of the Vegan Patty Lady in Lewisham

For Natasha, the founder, the road to success has not been easy. Balancing her full-time job with running her business has often meant working 18 to 20 hours a day, heading straight from her nine-to-five role into the kitchen to work through the night. “The physical and emotional toll has been immense,” she shares, “but my passion for bringing this unique product to market keeps me going.”

Another significant hurdle has been the labour-intensive nature of handmade production, which limits her ability to scale. However, she has embraced opportunities to overcome these challenges, including applying for grants to secure a warehouse and machinery to automate key parts of her process.

Grow London Local has been a vital partner in her journey, providing tailored support in areas such as scaling production, understanding market trends, and connecting her with the right resources. Their expertise and encouragement have not only helped her navigate challenges but also empowered her to take bold steps in expanding The Vegan Patty Lady and bringing her vision for the future to life.

The Grow London Local team was also on hand at the Lewisham Awards to celebrate Natasha’s victory and the collective achievements of the local business community.

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Natasha Orumbie at the Lewisham Awards winning the Best New Business award

Adding to her recent win, The Vegan Patty Lady has been shortlisted for the prestigious Simply Business Awards, with results to be announced in December. The recognition she’s received fuels her ambition to continue growing and inspiring others in her community. Her next big step, with Grow London Local, is to forge partnerships with local businesses, restaurants, and retailers to bring her award-winning patties to more customers.

Natasha Orumbie, founder of The Vegan Patty Lady, shares:
“Winning the Lewisham Award was an unforgettable moment, and now being shortlisted for the Simply Business Award is another exciting milestone. The support from Grow London Local has been valuable, helping me overcome challenges and identify opportunities to grow my business.”