Petra Barran facts for kids

Petra Barran is a British entrepreneur who started KERB, a popular group of street food businesses in London. She began her journey in 2005, selling chocolate from an old ice cream van. By 2019, KERB had grown to five locations across London, serving over 10,000 meals every week.

Early Life and Food Adventures

Petra Barran grew up in Suffolk, England. Her father was a fishmonger and teacher, and her mother taught children with dyslexia. Petra became interested in food from a young age. She first experienced exciting street food when she was ten years old during a trip to Mexico.

Her very first job was in a local tearoom. Later, she studied American Studies at the University of Manchester, earning her degree in 1999.

Starting a Sweet Business

After college, Petra became fascinated with chocolate. She even trained with a famous chocolatier named Pierre Marcolini. In 2005, Petra started her own chocolate business called Choc Star. She sold delicious treats like hot chocolate and brownie sundaes from an old ice cream van she named Jimmy. She traveled all over the United Kingdom, sometimes trading her chocolate puddings for a place to stay overnight!

Choc Star became very popular. One time, a festival where she was supposed to sell her chocolates was canceled, and she couldn't get her money back. This made Petra determined to help other small food businesses. She decided to create a group where street food sellers could support each other.

Petra also loved cooking from a recipe book she had from Sainsbury's, trying out every single dish.

Building a Food Community

In 2009, Petra teamed up with two other street food companies to form Eat Street. This group grew to include 32 different food sellers who set up stalls in various parts of London. In 2010, while on holiday in New York City, Petra decided to study for a master's degree in Urban Studies. She wanted to find ways to make cities more exciting through food.

She retired her beloved van, Jimmy, in 2011. That same year, Petra was recognized by The Independent newspaper as one of "Ten People Who Changed The World." She finished her master's degree at University College London in 2013. She also lived in Africa and Italy, which likely broadened her food experiences.

The Rise of KERB

Petra launched KERB in 2012. Her goal was to make the street food scene open and welcoming for everyone. KERB helps street food vendors by providing professional advice and support. They also encourage vendors to share tips and help each other.

Petra created a special program called inKERBator. This program finds and supports new street food businesses. It's a three-month course, and KERB chooses about 5% of the participants to join their community. Petra even made a magazine, the KERB manual, which gives advice on how to set up a food truck business.

KERB has hosted many fun food festivals, focusing on themes like fried chicken, vegan food, and nostalgic treats. Some popular KERB businesses have even grown into successful restaurants, such as Pizza Pilgrims, Bleecker Burger, and Bao. As of July 2019, KERB's street food markets were selling over 10,000 dishes each week at five different locations in London.

Petra once asked Boris Johnson, who was then the Mayor of London, to help street food sellers in the city. She also gave a TEDxLondon talk, explaining how street food benefits society. KERB works with partners like Street Child, helping mothers in West Africa start their own businesses to pay for school uniforms and supplies for their children. In 2019, KERB opened a permanent market at Seven Dials in London, featuring 25 vendors and even a cheese conveyor belt!

Awards and Recognition

Petra Barran has received several awards for her work:

• 2011 The Independent Ten People Who Changed The World
• 2012 Evening Standard Most Influential People
• 2015 Evening Standard Most Influential People

See also

In Spanish: Petra Barran para niños