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GreenZen
POKÉ | BUBBLE TEA | MATCHA
2016
Please see below for a personal timeline interlinked with the GreenZen business timeline from inception to now in the second quarter of 2019.
The story of how it all started...
BRAINSTORMING BUSINESS IDEAS
01 Jul 2016 | Poké Bar selected!
After weeks of kitchen laboratory style experimentation and daily trips to the supermarkets, finally the Poké bar idea was selected
FOUNDER QUITS HIS JOB AFTER 6 YEARS IN INDUSTRY!
31 Jul 2016 | The work begins...
After a character developing 6 years in the IT and business industry, Sean decided to leave his job to pursue something he personally believes in. With an entrepreneurial spirit and a drive to succeed, he sets his targets and puts his faith in these little but good pots known as Poké.
GREENZEN LTD INCORPORATED
02 Aug 2016 | One step closer!
On the 2nd of August, GreenZen Ltd was incorporated along with other potential names of the company 'Greenbite Ltd' and 'Poke bar ltd'
ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR A TORN PCL
IN THE LEFT KNEE
15 Sep 2016 | Make or break
After playing a SPAC role in a movie directed by the great Steven Spielbergs, "Ready Player One", Sean was diagnosed in the Waterloo hospital St Guys' and Thomas' with a torn PCL in the left knee. Refusing surgery, after 1 and a half weeks, Sean recovered a small strand of ligament in the left knee, enough to not need surgery and heal on his own. He was left immobile, unable to walk for 3-4 weeks.
GREENZEN GRANTED PERMISSION TO BEGIN TRADE AT CANADA PLAZA MARKET
18 Oct 2016 | One step at a time
Now, this is where things get interesting. Sean could barely walk due to a partially ruptured PCL, found himself with a room full of boxes and a designer tent which sucked up all of his financial resources, had his traders application rejected by Southwark council for trade at Canada Water Plaza Market, and was jobless! After hobbling tirelessly to different suppliers such as Billingsgate market in Canary wharf before the sun would even rise over our hemisphere, how could he drop this project now? After a week or so and much convincing, Southwark Council decided to approve the idea, he could walk without any support, and his materials had purpose again. The road was clear...
GREENZEN POKÉ BAR OPENED
26 Oct 2016 | Hurray!
On the 26th of October, GreenZen Poké Bar opened. GreenZen initially started with a "build your own Poké bowl" style menu, which was a flimsy poster that tore off the front of the tent every 5 minutes due to the winter winds. Drinks were not sold at this time, and the bulk of sales were hot Miso Sesame Poké soups. Trying to sell summer food in the winter time proved very difficult, but even with no walls around the tent, and freezing temperatures, the winter was endured and the summer over the horizon.
2017
GREENZEN POKÉ & MATCHA BAR
01 Jan 2017 | Menu update
Around 2017 January, GreenZen changed it's food menu and added a drinks menu. The food menu consisted of 4 preset Poké bowls; The Everyday Salmon Poké, The Meaty Teriyaki Poké, The Vegetarian Poké and The Samurai Tuna Steak Poké. The Matcha drinks menu (serving only hot at this point) consisted of 12 flavours of Matcha Latte, using the finest Matcha.
SOCIAL MEDIA REVAMP!
15 Feb 2017 | Instagram & Facebook revisited
Sales started to become more and more consistent and with more confidence, GreeNZen started focusing on marketing - Facebook and Instagram.
GREENZEN OPENS IN WATERLOO, LOWER MARSH MARKET
16 Mar 2017 | Fate
Treated by the NHS Waterloo St Guys' & Thomas', Sean returned to Waterloo to return the favor by serving the community which surrounds it with my experience and expertise in the F&B industry thus far. It brings him much pleasure to have customers from the NHS each opening day. This is his little secret!
Open every Thursday & Friday, this branch stands as a testimony to never give up.
GREENZEN.CO.UK WEBSITE & ONLINE STORE CREATED
19 Mar 2017 | Expanding the portfolio
After gaining an account with a very important Japanese warehouse, who supply to the likes of Japan Centre and Tesco, Sean decided to create the GreenZen online shop. The website also shows nutritional and health benefit information, requested by many customers at the Waterloo and Canada Water Locations. GreenZen will soon produce its own line of Matcha products sold exclusively on this website.
NEW MENU & MEDIA ATTENTION
06 Apr 2017 | 2017 UK food blogger award winner pays a visit
GreeZen in Waterloo was paid a visit by the 2017 UK Food Blogger Award winner. Photos are on Instagram 'CatchFiftyTwo' receiving the most likes for a photo she had ever posted!
PRIVATELY INVITED TO CATERING EVENTS
23 Jun 2017 | Sushi for 350 people, movie catering and more!
We had a wonderful time catering for a private tennis club in Weybridge for up to 350 people. It was a difficult and challenging experience to say the least as I made 2,100 sushi without 3 days of sleep! We were privately invited and full of gratitude to have been invited for the clubs centurion celebration.
We were also privately invited to cater for a Chinese movie production in and around north and south london. This involved creating various NEW menus which I had in the backlog involving the creation of steamed poke buns, teriyaki buns, dumplings, man tao, as well as the classic poke we already make. This rolled on until mid mid july and involved creating food for up to 65 people per day.
2018
DELIVEROO
01 Feb 2018 | Being part of larger communities
We're excited to be a part of a national platform, adding credibility and exposure to our beloved products.
"ALL IN"
05 Dec 2018 | Construction starts, no looking back!
GreenZen will finally have it’s own space! We are working tirelessly towards the launch of our brick and mortar store that will be in January 2019. We decided to stay loyal to the community we’ve built in Canada Water and so that’s where we’ll be opening our first store (with many more to come)!
Life is like a game of poker. You can’t just wait for the perfect opportunity, you have to play the hand you’re dealt. It’s dangerous to wait for when the time is right for quitting your job to start your own business, for approaching that girl you fancy, or for asking your boss for a pay rise. The opportunity may vanish if you wait for too long. So when opportunity called, you go “ALL IN!”
2019
OUR FIRST FLAGSHIP STORE
27 Jan 2019 | The start of a new chapter
A date to remember - the first GreenZen Poké & Matcha Bar is open for business! Thanks to all of you that has been loyal to GreenZen since we were just a little tent. Today you can enjoy our signature poké bowls and innovative matcha drinks at Canada Water Station! Hope to see you guys soon.
4.7 STARS IN 2 MONTHS!
27 Mar 2019 | Striving to be the best
GreenZen is all about the community and you guys have just been awesome! Your love and support means so much to us. So thank you to everyone that has stepped foot into our store, our followers since day one and all of you who have helped us achieve a 4.7 star rating on Google! We appreciate each one of you and we love you so matcha!
DID SOMEONE SAY BUBBLE TEA!?
12 Apr 2019 | Summer is just around the corner!
We said we'd always listen to what the community wants and continuously innovate our food and drink - so here it is! The perfect summer treat - GreenZen Matcha Bubble Tea. YAY! Come on over to try it for yourself. We have vegan and gluten free options, as well as a new range of refreshing iced teas. Battle the summer heat with us at GreenZen Poké & Matcha Bar.
2022
In 01/02/22 GreenZen Health was completed. This company will be the retail arm of GreenZen and distribute catering and commercial size matcha and matcha blends to cafes, bubble tea shops, bakeries, and both online and offline retailers
