CEO Stories: Five things we learned from Island Delight Jamaican patty pioneer Wade Lyn
Wade Lyn, founder of Cleone Foods and creator of the Island Delight Jamaican patty, was the latest guest on CEO Stories – a podcast from Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce which delves into the minds of the region’s best and brightest business leaders.
The podcast, hosted by GBCC chief executive Henrietta Brealey, is available in full on all major listening platforms such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
In this episode, we hear how Wade gave supermarket bosses food for thought by introducing them to the Jamaican patty.
The Jamaican-born entrepreneur owns Hockley-based Cleone Foods which produces Island Delight, the UK’s biggest selling Jamaican patty which is stocked on most major supermarkets.
During the podcast he talks to Henrietta about his role in spicing up the UK food market by introducing the Caribbean culinary staple to a new audience.
Wade, a former High Sheriff of the West Midlands, also reveals how his approach to business was influenced by his entrepreneurial parents and his athletics career.
Here are five things we learned from Wade’s chat Henrietta...
1) Levi Roots to Malcolm X
Wade was born in the Jamaican parish of Clarendon, which is also the birthplace of entrepreneur, musician and celebrity chef Levi Roots.
At the age of seven, Wade moved to the West Midlands where he spent the remainder of his childhood in the street made famous by a visit from another renowned figure – African-American civil rights activist Malcolm X.
He explains: “I came here in 1966 to join my mum and dad, and they both lived in a very famous street called Marshall Street in Smethwick.
“That particular street is made famous by from Malcolm X. He visited Marshall Street and then went back to the United States and got assassinated nine days later.
“I didn't realise as a young guy, that this particular street was very famous at the time.”
2) Budding track and field star
Wade was a budding 400m runner for Warley Athletics Club.
His ability on the track earned him a place at Leeds University where he had the opportunity to observe athletics stars such as Daley Thompson, Steve Cram and Steve Ovett up close.
He explains: “I was fortunate to go to Leeds Beckett Park where the athletic track was.
“You had world class trainers, including a gentleman called Wilf Paish, who used to train athletes like Steve Cram.
“I saw Daley Thompson and Steve Ovett on site too.”
3) The part-time DJ
Wade’s entrepreneurial spirit came to life at university when he started up a business as a DJ.
He said: “While I was at university, I did have a little business - I was a part-time disc jockey.
“I found that the university had sold up their disco equipment. So, I teamed up with a couple of mates and said: “What about if we bought the equipment and hired ourselves out to do a bit of disc jockeying at house parties for £30 a time?
“And if you didn't want an individual like one of us, we'd hire the equipment for £20 a time.
“I had a car while I was at university - a little Triumph Herald. We’d take out the front seat to put the speaker boxes in and the other guy would sit on the back seat.”
4) A family affair
Wade’s daughter, Cleo, is also now playing an important role in the business – having learned the ropes from her dad.
He revealed: “My daughter has been in the business since she was very young.
“She used to come and work during the school holidays and help us put boxes on the pallets.
“Now, she looks after the internet side of the business and she comes up with fabulous ideas.”
5) Inspiring young people
Inspiring the younger members of his workers to advance in their careers gives Wade great satisfaction.
He tells Henrietta: “For me, it's the younger people in my organisation who come in - I like to inspire them.
“I always say to young people who work and then leave my company: “The only thing I want you to do is be able to say that I've upskilled you for UK PLC.
“Whatever set of skills you've got here, I want you to go away and build on what you've learned in my company.
“Not a sideward move, but an upward movement. That's what I say to everybody there.”
