Zach Coggin – chef and success story!

Zach Coggin is a local man, a chef, and brand new owner of The Thrill Grill, a food van based in Falmouth. Getting to this point has been a roller-coaster, but Zach is a great success story for Village Works, and a product of his own determination as well.

When the Village Works team first met Zach, aged 34, he was having health issues, was unemployed, and generally not in a great place. However, he had a dream: Zach wanted to be head chef in his own place, and the first step on that journey was to have a food van. A talented chef, Zach has worked all over the world, cooked for premiership football clubs and big names in the food industry, and had open offers to cook in several famous kitchens whenever he was ready.

However, Zach wanted the flexibility of his own van, rather than working in someone else’s kitchen, and needed to be close to where his baby son lives. Both a permanent pitch and the ability to attend events will ensure that Zach can maximise his profits. He wants to bring in local young people to work in the van, to give them a chance where they might otherwise not get one, and offer his support to the wider community.

Village Works stepped alongside Zach, and worked with him to sort out his financial situation, supporting him to apply for benefits he was entitled to, and arranging other support. We pointed him towards Job Centre Plus’s ‘New Enterprise Allowance’, which funded his chef’s uniform, shoes, and trading license. Village Works arranged a COVID Winter Grant for a cooker and fridge-freezer, and Zach was delighted with the progress of the van, while still awaiting a date to deal with his health issues.

However, between March and September 2021, things dipped for Zach. He had surgery, obtained a better van, and was waiting for a pitch to become available, for him to trade from. He had been working hard to secure contracts with suppliers – Roskilly’s for ice cream, as well as Westcountry Fruits for fruit & veg, and Slush Puppies. He’d got a new fryer and grill, but needed support to fund the initial stock purchase. A grant was made to him to help him pay his rent in addition to affording this, and in addition, Andrew of Village Works coached him through the planning application hearing.

In September 2021, Falmouth Town Council approved Zach’s use of a pitch in the layby overlooking Pendennis Shipyard, on Pendennis Point, for all-day, year-round trading. This will enable Zach to meet the needs of shift-workers at the shipyard, and other tradesmen who require breakfast before starting their shifts, or a warm meal mid-way through, as well as capturing passing trade.

A week before the start of the October half term in 2021, Zach opened his van, The Thrill Grill, selling locally produced food, including burgers, with vegan and vegetarian alternatives, and other delicious snacks and meals, with hot drinks and ice cream.

The Village Works team are all proud of him, and highly recommend his van to anyone!

Andrew, the Village Works coach for Helston and the Lizard, said,

“Zach is here today because of his talent as a chef. He’s confident about that aspect of what he’s doing, and the Village Works team was able to support him and give him confidence in the other areas. His success in this venture can only be good for him and the local community. We wish him well!”