The founders of Notting Hill and Islington-based FRAE yoghurt decided there was more to life than a career in the law and instead chose… frozen yoghurt.
While studying and training as lawyers in Scotland and later working as lawyers in the City, Donald Murray and Martyn Pollock dreamed of founding a business that would be the next big thing. In 2008, in their late 20s, they discovered frozen yoghurt in New York and grabbed the opportunity to bring the concept to London.
In 2009 Pollock left his job at McGrigors and Murray left his at CMS Cameron McKenna. With £75,000 of savings, they started two London frozen yoghurt shops called Frae. Currently self-funded, they’re preparing for future international expansion and potential franchising, with offers for funding occasionally come from enthusiastic customers. As well as appearing at school fêtes, FRAE has also garnered a celebrity following (including Keira Knightley and Ruby Wax), possibly thanks to popping up at a sprinkling of London celebrity events, such as a fashion show sponsored by Vogue.
The pair’s biggest challenges have included telling their families the news of their career switch. “It’s never easy sitting your parents down to tell them you’re turning your back on a highly paid City job to sell frozen yoghurt,” quips Donald Murray. “Martyn and I were never particularly interested in the law and spent many years looking for concepts before starting FRAE. When starting from scratch, comfort and security are first to go out of the window. You have to be 100% convinced you want to leave law and even more convinced your idea will work.”
The plan seems to be working. FRAE is selling well throughout the year according to Murray. “My proudest moment so far came when meeting a well-known British retailer recently in Switzerland. After mentioning I owned a frozen yoghurt company he said he loved frozen yoghurt and that FRAE was his favourite. That was a peach.”
Posted by Simon Broomer, Managing Director and Founder at CareerBalance Ltd
