Jake Wynne, the 27-year-old owner of True Plate, is preparing to open his first physical shop in Formby after selling more than 650 meals in just 18 minutes. The gourmet healthy meal-prep service, which launched only seven weeks ago, has seen demand soar, prompting the move from weekly deliveries to a high-street location.
Wynne, who grew up between Waterloo and Crosby and now lives in Aughton, started the business from his kitchen table. He draws on years of experience in the hospitality industry, including a stint in fine dining at 8 by Andrew Sheridan in Liverpool.
From fine dining to healthy meals
Wynne told the ECHO: "I've been in the hospitality industry since I was about 21, working in branded restaurants and the standard run-of-the-mill places. My first real shot at fine dining was at 8 by Andrew Sheridan, when it opened a few years ago." He added that he knocked on the door without knowing who Andrew Sheridan was, and after a trial shift, he was hired.
He explained that he had grown tired of high-end hospitality and had struggled with his mental health due to the hours. "I'd always known I wanted to work for myself. I've been like that since I was young," he said.
Rapid growth and sell-out success
The business launched seven weeks ago, initially attracting around 40 orders in its first week. That quickly increased to around 100 orders, helped by posts on Instagram. This week, more than 650 meals were sold in just 18 minutes.
Wynne attributes the success to combining fine-dining quality with accessible food. He said: "I've always been into the gym and I've always been the kind of person who would train before work or after work, but I didn't use to eat properly myself. So the idea was to create a healthy-eating brand that could hopefully get a few people eating better."
New Formby shop and menu details
The business offers a different menu every week, currently consisting of five meals. The food uses butcher-grade meat and is made without seed oils, with sauces made from scratch. This week's menu included charred brisket and rice with pickled cucumber and sesame, alongside Cajun chicken rigatoni with roasted pepper, Parmesan and parsley.
At present, five meals cost £40, with a £2 delivery charge. Customers can also order 10 meals for £75, again with a £2 delivery charge. From September, the new premises will allow customers to buy meals directly from fridges in the shop, while coffee and matcha will also be available.
Wynne said: "I've spoken to the current owners and they still don't want me to say exactly where it is. What I can say is that it's in a high-street location in Formby, so it's going to be very visible."
