We love supporting local businesses, so when we heard about new business Chilli Willys we had to get some in! We caught up with Will to find out a little more about him and his chilli oil venture.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF

I’m Will, I’m an ex-chef, Master’s grad, and I have a pretty sweet tache! I’m also a massive foodie who loves good food and drink, so I’m pretty lucky to be from Norwich given how many great pubs and eateries there are here.

WHAT MADE YOU SET UP YOUR OWN BUSINESS?

I’ve always loved cooking, especially Asian food, and when a friend introduced me to chilli oil back at uni I knew I had to have a go at making it myself. Than covid happened, which meant that I had to change up my plans, as it did with a lot of people, and I ended up working as a chef. I had been toying with the idea of making chilli oil when I was working, but when I ended up getting burnt out, which unfortunately is all too common an occurrence in the hospitality industry, I quit to focus fully on making my own business.

WHO MAKES UP YOUR TEAM?

Right now it’s just myself and my friend and media manager Pavi, I make the stuff, she makes it look good for the world to see, and we both share in the admin work. Who knows how this will change going forward though, I look forward to growing the business and getting more folks on board!

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?

Right now, I just want to get the name out there and get people trying my chilli oil, and playing around with it in the kitchen so they can see just how versatile a condiment it is! Hopefully in the near future I can find a new place to cook from as demand increases, I can do collaborations with other local businesses (some are already in the pipeline), and maybe someday become the peoples’ favourite brand of chilli oil!

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT THE AREA YOU LIVE IN?

I live just outside of the city, so for me it’s got to be all the nature and the natural beauty of this part of the world! It’s amazing to watch the ebb and flow of the seasons as the years progress, the cycles of new life, decay, and rebirth, and the endless everchanging skies our flat little county is blessed with. Being lucky enough to go out and see all of this has been great for my mental health too, especially in tough times like after I quit my old job and during the pandemic.

DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT WEEKEND

A Saturday spent with friends up city getting lunch on the market and perusing pubs and charity shops throughout the day, finding somewhere nice (which isn’t hard) to have dinner, then visiting a few more watering holes before heading home. Sunday would then be a mix of lounging around, playing or watching something while chilling with my cats, and cooking up some delicious comforting food while listening to music or the blindboy podcast.

We look forward to watching this small business grow and see what they do next!

Grab your Chilli Willy’s chilli oil in store and online now! www.thegarnet.co.uk/shop/chilli-willys-chilli-oil

Why we love Chilli Willy's Chilli Oil