Mr Nabill Shukry Iohary has been making do with less than five hours of sleep every night since he started meal-prep delivery service Cheekies in July 2021.
The 27-year-old used to juggle a full-time job and part-time studies as well, often spending three hours after work on the home-based business.
His father Iohary Ibrahim, 56, who was roped into the business, initially worked up to 14 hours daily marinating chicken in the tiny kitchen of their one-room rental flat.
Their hard work paid off and the pandemic side hustle eventually became successful enough for them to move into a commercial kitchen and employ three parttimers.
Cheekies - a fun word play on their main product of frozen marinated chicken breasts stemmed from Mr Nabill's fitness journey. He wanted to eat chicken breasts to bulk up, but found them unappetising and dry.
His father, an avid home cook, was able to whip up palatable chicken breasts by tenderising them and marinating them with black pepper and garlic powder before air-frying them.
Mr Nabill, who found them delicious, hit upon the idea to start a home-based business to sell his father's marinated chicken during the pandemic, when he noticed many home-based businesses sprouting up.
He says: "I realised there were not many choices for healthy meal prep in the Muslim market, and I felt it was a gap we could fill."
It was a promising solution, given that Mr Iohary, a private-hire car driver, was not earning enough to cover his wife's medical bills the 60-yeold has psoriatic arthritis which affects her ability to work - and their family's expenses. He has another son, 22, who is studying computer science at SUTD.
Mr Nabill used about $1,000 of his savings to start their meal-prep business, including purchasing a freezer, ingredients and packaging materials. He plans to apply for halal certification in 2025.
Bu hikaye The Straits Times dergisinin October 27, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Straits Times dergisinin October 27, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
NO SNOW, BUT SANTA'S STILL AT WORK
With a month to go until Christmas, Santa Claus is busy preparing, but he is worried about the warming climate and lack of snow in his Arctic home town.
My Chemical Romance ex-drummer Bob Bryar was active in dog rescue
Bob Bryar, the former drummer of pop-punk band My Chemical Romance, who was with the group from 2004 to 2010, has died at the age of 44.
Lady Gaga to hold free gig at Rio's Copacabana Beach: Sources
Pop star Lady Gaga is set to hold a free concert at Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach in May 2025, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, a show expected to draw hundreds of thousands of fans.
Taylor Swift fans turn out on Black Friday for vinyl album, new Eras Tour book
Young Taylor Swift fans and their parents lined up outside some of Target's nearly 2,000 stores in America early on Nov 29 - Black Friday - to buy copies of her new Eras Tour book and vinyl album.
K-drama actor Jung Woo-sung apologises after scandal on love child
One of South Korea's top actors apologized after it was revealed he fathered a child with a woman he is not married to, sparking nationwide scrutiny in a country where births outside marriage are still seen as taboo.
Festive vibes with Vivaldi at SSO's choral concert
CONCERT GLORIA!
An exploration of personal identities through dance
As one stepped into the theatre, a dancer was already on stage, performing a short series of movements.
BoA's first solo show harks back to K-pop's roots
The South Korean singer-songwriter's Singapore show was the last stop of her first Asia tour
The myth of an equal marriage
Research has shown that married women continue to do more at home compared with their husbands, so it is time for men to step up
What to do if your child is targeted by a bully
Following recent incidents of school bullying, several parents wrote in to ST to ask for advice on how they can help their children if they are targeted by a bully or bullying someone.
