HBB Star – Nikia M. Lightfoot

We got to connect with another rising star in our Huntsville community and today we had the opportunity to connect with Nikia M. Lightfoot Owner of Vujee Vegan. Check out our conversation below:

Nikia, please tell us a little about you. Where you are from, what’s your upbringing?

My name is Nikia Lightfoot, a native of Huntsville, AL. and a graduate of Grissom High School. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and a Master of Science in Management/Logistics Management degree from Florida Institute of Technology (FIT). I am a 10-year breast cancer survivor and advocate. Professionally, I am a Logistics Manager supporting the Department of Defense. I am the CEO & Owner of Vujee Vegan. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, traveling, teaching dance fitness, singing, mentoring and philanthropy.

What inspired you to start your own business?

I knew I wanted to do something extraordinary from a young age. Little did I know that helping my mother and grandmother in the kitchen would spark my curiosity. I knew at the age of 12, I was destined to own a restaurant. I didn’t know how I would get there or how I would be able to finance it, but it was going to happen. My personal plant-based journey started when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. There were several studies that connected eating a plant-based diet with rapid recovery, so I decided to shift my lifestyle during my treatment. My love for cooking and seeing the need for more vegan and plant-based options, launched me into a whirlwind adventure in the vegan and plant-based food industry. Vujee Vegan was birthed September 16, 2020, during the pandemic.

What is unique about your business? Tell us a bit more.

Vujee Vegan is a fast and comfort food kitchen serving 100% vegan and plant-based food. We are a unique concept in our community; we are part of a ghost kitchen/commissary concept with a dining room for our guests.

Our daily menu consists of our homemade chili and cornbread, burgers and waffle fries, chick’n nuggets, chick’n sandwiches. We offer meal prep service and a specialty menu that includes BBQ smoked ribz, mack’n cheeze, sweet & spicy bang bang shrimp, Salisbury steak, meatloaf, krab kakes, assorted baked cookies (chocolate, oatmeal & raisin, and coconut), Vujee Velvet cake, and apple and peach dumplings.

There are so many ways to create amazing, delicious vegan food. We are enjoying being a part of the vegan food service industry serving delicious food to our community. I strive daily to operate in a spirit of excellence. Having that mindset in every area of my life, including my business is very important. In order for me to stand out, the keys to success includes presentation, serving delicious, quality food but most importantly customer service and connecting with my customers. I want my customers to be impressed every time they visit my establishment or meet me or someone from my team.

I’m so excited for the opportunity to feed my community and dispel the myth that vegan and plant-based food is boring and limited to only salads and baked potatoes. One thing about Vujee Vegan inspired meals is that it is not only meant for those who are strictly vegan but also for those who desire to decrease their meat intake and for the consumer who wants to enjoy delicious food that happens to be vegan.

What have been your biggest challenges, and how have you overcome them?

The most challenging part about being a restaurant owner is the need to remain nimble and responsive to a constantly changing market. Customer needs, competition, rising costs of products and weather all play a role in your business… None of which you have any real control over or ability to predict with certainty.

I’ve learned that obstacles are part of successful entrepreneurship. When we tried to scale up the business, we faced unforeseen capital needs to purchase larger equipment. When we began seeing consistent revenue, inflation kicked in and increased the cost of goods by over 30%, directly impacting our net revenue and requiring us to raise prices. When we wanted to take on the purchase of a food truck, we were hit with the stark reality that 1 person couldn’t be in 5 places simultaneously and talented staff were nowhere to be found. I’m sharing these experiences because I am a living testament that IN SPITE of this adversity, a great sense of humor will take you a long way.

If you could speak to your younger self, just starting out, what advice would you give him/her?

The advice I would give my younger self: Believe in yourself. Give yourself grace. Know your worth. Do what makes you happy. Embrace being different. There is so much more to you than what people see on the exterior.

What’s your dream/the end game?

My ultimate dream for Vujee Vegan is to franchise and own a mobile kitchen. My desire is to start a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and create a vegan/plant-based food initiative for the disadvantaged and unhoused communities.

What advice do you have for other entrepreneurs?

I would encourage anyone who wants to start a business to do your due diligence, write your vision and business plan, research the market and competitors, register your business, and do the necessary work to execute. Seek out a mentor or coach, and establish a team to include an accountant, an attorney, and an insurance agent. Don’t measure your success based on what others think success is. There is nothing new under the sun. So don’t be afraid to start your business. Don’t be intimidated because someone else may be doing the same thing or something similar. But most importantly, stay focused. If you believe your business idea is part of your journey and it provides a solution, go for it!

And that’s a wrap on another amazing interview with another of the amazing small business owners here in Huntsville, AL. Thank you for taking the time to chat with us!