We had the good fortune of connecting with Susan Soulard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Susan, how do you think about risk?

I have always had a wild side but the older I get I take more “calculated” risks. In my 20’s I was moving carefree from country to country based on where I was offered a position as a commercially trained Chef and some of these were London, France and Monaco on the French Riviera. By taking risks, I was fortunate to have an incredible culinary journey and make some great friends during this typical rite of passage for young adults.

Fast forward 20 years and now I have a family, own an established food business and live and work in a foreign country – Singapore.

In the early days of our health food business The Whole Kitchen, myself and business partner were very ambitious and threw ourselves into it taking many chances, feeding off the excitement of growth, adventure and success. Setting up a business in a foreign country can be intimidating but with savviness and grit you need to find pathways and good networks around you. We now have an established brand, extensive catalogue with a broad customer base including wholesale partners, airline, retail and foodservice markets in Asia.

Risk is definitely not for everyone but I do challenge the status quo often and appreciate change in order to improve. Life priorities will continue to change however, individual learning and personal growth is key and taking risks is part of that evolution.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

Food has always been more than just a way to fuel the body or dining out at a restaurant, it is a way to bring people together through culture and community.

After travel and burnout, I returned to Australia to work with some of Sydney’s best restaurants, sidestepping into the front of house where I learned exactly what it takes to operate a business with Judy and Michael from Catalina Rose Bay and then moved into corporate food service designing healthy eating plans notably with Google Australia.

In 2015, The Whole Kitchen was established when myself and business partner joined forces to create healthy and tasty foods that were allergen friendly but above all good for you. Our shared passion for real food and understanding of its benefits for health and vitality, is what inspired us to work together. Today TWK is known as a brand that stands for genuine health, great taste, and natural goodness and is the leader in healthy food in Singapore.

But in 2022, the time had come to make a change and reconsider my professional career and what I wanted out of life. Looking ahead for 2023, I have enrolled in a Bachelor of Food with La Trobe University Melbourne and will be moving into a business leadership role in the food industry to make real changes for larger communities, implementing healthy eating programs through policy, programming and sustainability. There are always new projects in the pipeline so stay tuned.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Singapore is an incredibly friendly and safe place to live and travel and is multi-ethnic and multi-lingual including Chinese, Malay, Indian, English and many more. The food culture here is a melting pot of various cuisines and in 2022 alone, there were 51 Michelin starred restaurants and almost 70 Bib Gourmand outlets including food stalls, hawkers and restaurants! Not to mention tonnes of cool bars, wet markets and shopping haunts. If you love food, Singapore is your place. If you have time, it’s very simple to jump on plane and visit one of the fabulous culture-rich countries that surrounds Singapore such as Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

The list is long and influences can run as broad as music and books but there are some key figures in my life who I continually admire and have helped me grow spiritually and professionally not to mention my supportive family.

OLD FRIENDS are the ones who have been on the journey since childhood and understand our unique and sometimes quirky personalities. My good friend Bianca Faye from The Costumery deserves a shout out. Bianca and I had set up our own businesses at the same time although different countries and industries. Bianca is now the most successful costume shop in Melbourne Australia and personally designs costumes for the Australian theatre and television.

GOOD FRIENDS Christophe Grilo and Nicolas Vergnole who took me under their wing during the Covid years. We created new products together, shared knowledge and skills and hosted many dinner parties together! Being an entrepreneur and mother can be a lonely task and it’s important to have the right professional support in the industry, decompress and answer those technical questions around midnight. Merci mecs.

FRIENDS FOR LIFE Alexandra and Dominique Touchaud have supported me throughout my personal and business growth in Singapore. Without their intelligence, wit, professional acumen, and approach to life I wouldn’t be where I am today. Thank you for all the dinner parties and keeping us all together.

Instagram: the_wholekitchen

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