OBT Feature Business jAK & MO Taste Co

For a start-up business that is only two years old, jAK & MO Taste Co has already made its mark on Gatton.

The business not only won the Food and Dining category at last year’s Lockyer Valley Business, Training & Apprenticeships Awards, but was also voted People’s Choice.

It was only the second time owner Angela Jackwitz had taken part, so success came as a bit of a surprise.

“I know that our customers love what we do but we only have a small market that we cater for every day,” says Angela.

“We set out to create something nice in town, so that locals didn’t have to make a special trip on their day off just to enjoy great food and coffee somewhere else.”

Located in Railway Street, Angela has a passion to treat her customers to fine urban food and great coffee, produced from fresh whole foods and no processing. It’s what she believes in and translates to the plate.

“We see that approach working when couples come in for a date and spend time lingering over a great meal.”

Angela brings a plethora of experience having always been in hospitality and pastry. jAK & MO is her first business on her own.

“I had always managed other people’s restaurants and cafes on the Sunshine Coast and in Toowoomba but was wrangled back to the Lockyer Valley and have been here for 17 years.”

“These days, I wouldn’t know where else to go,” says Angela. “Gatton is definitely home and it’s a fabulous location.”

OBT Financial Group was ready to help when Angela branched out on her own.

“We had always worked with Brett Garmeister on our tax,” she says. “Then Brett made everything work and come together when we started jAK & MO.”

“I’m not a businesswoman so don’t have the skills to be hands-on with paperwork and bookwork but, working with Brett, I didn’t have to worry too much about it.”

“Brett also put me onto Rachel Bichel who manages us every day,” says Angela. “Rodney Logan tracks our performance and makes sure I’m answerable to him whilst Rodney Turner and Kathy Burnett look after all our super and personal finances.”

Angela’s business holds an extra special place in her affections as it bears her family’s name and references her three children.

Working with OBT allows her to focus on her business and take it where it needs to go, so much so that Angela has gone back to TAFE to complete her commercial cookery studies. Once she’s qualified, Angela will be able to take on apprentices and provide jobs and skills to locals.

“I love learning new things but having apprentices on board and growing the business will show my kids that anything is possible at any age,” says Angela. “I have always taught our kids to be best they can be and to put your money where your mouth is.”

Angela believes a career in hospitality can take you anywhere, opens doors and certainly puts her in the creative driving seat.

Her primary focus in 2018 is to create a gourmet épicerie within jAK & MO.

“We’re currently limited on space so we’ll start small and introduce locally produced items that our customers can buy and that we can also use in our menus,” says Angela. “I’m talking with Lockyer Valley producers about sourcing their honey, jams and chutneys, oils and olives and goats cheese – both to use and sell – which is exciting and highlights local products.”

“I’m driven by fresh, real food going into my little people,” adds Angela. “This love of health and wellbeing has made me bring jAK & MO to life for the people of Gatton to experience our local offerings in their purest form.”

Read more about the award-winning food and ambience Angela and her team are creating at http://www.jakandmo.com/ or Follow jAK & MO on Facebook and Instagram.

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