Culinary Expert Transforms Health Food Venture into Thriving Restaurant

From The Earth Foods is a farm-to-table restaurant specializing in fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. Located in a charming setting, the restaurant offers a seasonal menu featuring organic produce, free-range meats, and sustainable seafood. With a focus on healthy, flavorful dishes, From Earth Foods provides a dining experience that celebrates the connection between food, community, and the environment.

Assistance Provided

Business Advisors:
Gifty Oduro-Ostrander, Ree Wackett

After gaining extensive experience in managing health food establishments, Nadinea Ramnarain decided to venture into entrepreneurship. With over 20 years of experience in the food industry and a background in culinary arts, she felt confident to open up a restaurant. Motivated by the realization that the general population needed to prioritize their health, particularly in light of the recent pandemic, Nadinea decided to focus on serving healthy foods. She reached out to the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for assistance with writing a comprehensive business plan, identifying potential financing options, and obtaining general start-up information and guidance. Additionally, Nadinea required support with market research to determine the market size, conduct a market analysis, assess competition, and forecast financials. Nadinea also needed to locate space for her new business. After an extensive search, a location was identified in Ronkonkoma, near the train station. Funding was required to purchase the business and remodel the space to fit her new business concept and style. SBDC Business Advisor Gifty Ostrander registered Nadinea in the Center’s LivePlan account to begin working on her business plan. She worked with Nadinea over an extensive period to perfect the business plan, make revisions, and achieve sound financial projections.

Business Advisor Gifty also assisted with loan packaging and provided ongoing support, including market research assistance, to help Nadinea achieve her goals and secure financing from the right lender. Business Advisor Gifty connected the client to M&T Bank for financing. As a start-up, Nadinea faced the expected challenges in obtaining capital for her business. To explore additional sales leads in the future, the client also worked with Business Advisor Ree Wackett to learn about potential procurement opportunities and business certifications as a woman and minority-owned business. Business Advisor Ree also provided guidance and support with marketing efforts.

Nadinea was approved for a $130,000 loan from M&T Bank. She injected $230,000 of her own capital into the business. The business location was soon affected by major area construction, resulting in the blockage of the main road leading to her establishment. In response, Nadinea resorted to creative marketing strategies to reach clients. Despite these challenges, since its opening in February 2023, the business has successfully created 12-15 part-time jobs and is on track to achieve its goals.

** Our success stories focus on the work the SBDC has done with our small business clients and does not constitute an expressed or implied endorsement by the NYSBDC of the company and/or their products and services.