For Londoner Rebecca Bateman, setting up a business in Bermuda as a non-Bermudian had its hurdles.

Before launching Bermy Recipe Box, she had to set up a full-limited company and then apply for a work permit for herself.

“I had to do that before I could even get started on any business activity,” she explained. “In some ways it was a challenge to get a work permit when you work for yourself, and in other ways, it was actually easier.”

She launched Bermy Recipe Box a year ago, delivering fresh ingredients, already pre-portioned and prepped for the customer to cook, along with recipe cards with simple instructions.

Now Ms Bateman is getting ready to hit go on a meal prep arm of the business targeting busy people who don’t have time to grocery shop or cook.

Running Bermy Recipe Box has been fun.

“I have a group of six Bermudians who work for me, and they are amazing,” she said. “I have absolutely struck gold with my staff.”

The last year has been a learning curve. She admitted that when she set up, she had no idea there were embargoes on vegetables in Bermuda.

“I just thought Bermuda sometimes had shortages on carrots,” she laughed.

Running Bermy Recipe Box opened her eyes.

“Embargoes are now a weird, niche topic that I know a lot about,” she said. “I rarely have issues with carrots, but finding sweet potatoes has been a problem sometimes. I know now to check with farmers about the vegetables available.”

She got the idea for the business from her life in London.

When she first got married, she and her husband only knew how to make four recipes between them.

“He knew how to make carbonara,” she said. “I can’t remember what it was I could make, but we got tired of eating the same thing over and over again.”

As a teacher, she did not have much time for grocery shopping, so she resorted to a recipe box service.

“They bring you a recipe and all the ingredients to make it,” she said. “I kept loads of recipe cards and gradually learnt to cook by following them.”

When she moved to Bermuda eight years ago, and had two children, she missed the recipe box service.

“I saw a gap in the market for something different,” she said.

Her target customers were busy professionals who did not want to think about cooking every night or go grocery shopping during the week.

Customers have a choice of ten recipes each week, which include dishes such as southwestern black bean cakes or crispy falafel salad.

Prices vary, but the most popular option, three meals for two people, is $145.

“After I had my second baby, I wanted to spend more time with my children,” Ms Bateman said. “I did not want to cook. I started thinking about how I could make my business even more convenient.”

She tests all of her recipes on her family before releasing them to her customers.

“Sometimes it is difficult because I know I do not like something, but that does not mean other people might not like it,” she said. “I have to find other people to try out the recipes, so I have a lot of dinner parties.”