A few words with Aberdeen’s most prolific man about town, Grub owner, Stuart Ross
Name: Stuart Ross
Age: 27
Hometown: Wye, a small village near Canterbury.
HC: What degree did you graduate with?
Stuart: I graduated with a 2:1 in Economics and Finance. I started doing Entrepreneurship but switched to Economics because I wanted people to take me more seriously.
HC: Why did you decide to open a sandwich shop?
Stuart: I always wanted to start a business and decided that rather than time wasting, which some students can spend a lot of their time doing at university, I would go ahead and make a head start with what I actually wanted to do with my life. I had a lot of business ideas but wanted to build a brand, which Grub required. I also wanted to go into an industry with a relatively low financial capital investment but with high long term gain. Most importantly, I love food and it was important for me to go into something that I am passionate about.
HC: What has been your highlight so far?
Stuart: Off the record? It’s given me a lot of luck with the ladies, which is always a plus! On a more serious note, opening the Bridge of Don shop was really exciting as it was another step towards widening the brand. I also love overhearing people talk about Grub, like hearing people fight over whether the ‘Bob Marley’ is better than the ‘Desperado’. Grub has become a brand and that’s always been my aim. People can say “I’m going for a Grub” – this is a great thing to achieve so early on.
HC: Other than being Grub Man in your Grub Van, what’s your favourite way to unwind away from the panini machine?
Stuart: Running, or saunas. I’m really into saunas at the moment.
HC: The million-dollar question, what is your favourite panini?
Stuart: Wow, that’s a tough one. I have to say Italian Meltdown, which is a controversial answer but simple sandwiches done really well are always the best. Chicken Tikka Melt takes solid second place. If we’re going for my number three it’s Desperado, but not every day is a Desperado day.
HC: What does the future hold for Grub?
Stuart: I am looking now to consolidate the business. There will be changes to both shops but before I expand anymore I need to make sure we have the whole business locked down. I’m establishing an online ordering system at the moment for the Bridge of Don shop. I will potentially put it in place for the Spital shop so that students can have a Grub home delivery service at weekends! In the long term I want Grub to be a High Street chain, but I’m only interested in a city centre shop when I can find the right location that I know people won’t be able to miss, but I’m not too concerned about that at this moment in time.
HC: What would be your motivational words for budding undergraduates looking to open a business?
Stuart: You need to have passion. The currency of an entrepreneur is enthusiasm, nothing else. Of course you need to be intelligent and hardworking to go far in life, but none of these things matter if you have no enthusiasm. I worked in the Spital shop for two and a half years making coffee and paninis which isn’t exactly the graduate dream after finishing Uni, but I did love it and it’s important to know your business. You have to put the work in. One of the most important things is having a business you will always love even when you are looking at it, up close and personal, sixty hours a week.