Newcastle chef Jordan Hartley launches new online meal prep platform for health lovers

I was born and raised in Newcastle and attended Warners Bay high until I was 16. I was highly influenced at school by a teacher, Mrs O'Keefe, who identified my passion and talent for cooking. Her encouragement was incredibly transformative in directing me towards what would become my career. Within the hospitality industry itself, world-renowned chef Brett Graham taught me a tremendous amount, much of which I still apply to my business today.

Where did you start chef life?

At 15 I started working on weekends and in the school holidays at Nor'East. This is where my passion for it flourished. I always struggled to focus in school however, I excelled at cooking and thrived in a more hands-on environment.

What jobs came next?

After finishing my apprenticeship at [then Newcastle restaurant] Bacchus, I moved to London for two years where I worked for [The Ledbury's] Brett Graham. Moving home, I worked at Bennelong in the Opera House before a back injury forced me to quit.

You were then on workers compensation. How do you recall that period?

It really broke me down, my mental health wasn't good and being told I couldn't be a chef anymore drove me into a deep depression. I was really struggling with being told to quit something I loved so much and was bewildered with what to do next.

What led you to create your catering business Jordan Hartley Health?

After hurting my back I began to train and eat healthier to help my physical and mental health. I was also rehabbing my back and had hired a coach to help me. I learnt so much about food throughout this process, including how to make delicious yet healthy food. This is when I began to see a huge gap in the market. There were plenty of standard meal prep companies, but there wasn't anyone making them more personalised. Most meal prep companies don't let you make requests - the meals come as they are - so I decided to create a company that let people feel like they had a personal chef in their home. The idea took off as it was unique and personalised. It is a really brilliant way for me to create a lifestyle for myself where I was able to manage my back but also help others with their health and fitness goals.

When did you launch?

Three and a half years ago, with the goal to cook for and share my ideas and knowledge of cooking with as many people as possible. However, no one knew who I was, so I had to work relentlessly to get my name out there. The hours were long and I was constantly hustling. Over the years as I have built my brand, the meal prep company has become a lot more self-sufficient and smooth, allowing me focus on my online presence and service through online meal prep courses and ebooks.

Where does your business deliver to?

Sydney-wide and to specific clients in Newcastle.

How did the pandemic affect your business?

Initially, I lost 70 per cent of my business in a day. I had to go back to helping with deliveries and taking on a lot more work. We are now back to normal but we did take a huge hit initially and found that to be very scary.

What is the new online platform to your business?

Jordan Hartley Health Premium launched last week and I am so excited! I developed this online service because I saw another gap in the market. When it comes to successful transformations, nutrition makes up for at least 80 per cent of the equation but most people don't know where to start. They are either overwhelmed with misinformation around fad diets and weight loss pills, or can't access or afford healthy meal prep and have no idea how to cook healthy meals. No one was offering a simple solution for people who wanted to count their calories and cook delicious meals that are easy to track. I decided to create something that was accessible and easy to understand for everyone!

Who is it designed for?

Anyone who wants to look after their health. From fat loss, weight maintenance or building muscle - the site is for the general population or a serious fitness goer.

How important is diet to mental health?

I am a huge advocate for mental health and I believe that diet is a huge factor in this. Nourishing your body is a really great way to build a connection with yourself, know what does and doesn't feel good and ultimately, do something for yourself! There is nothing more satisfying to me than cooking a beautiful meal and sitting down to enjoy it. We are super lucky to be able to access the food we do and taking time out to yourself to cook and nourish your body can do wonders for your mental health.

Your business goals for the next five years?

My main goal is to continue to grow my new company in the world of tech. My new site is able to be white labelled so that other PTs, nutritionists, fitness companies and gyms can use it as their own. Within five years you can expect food boxes to be delivered worldwide off the backend of my site. You will be able to pick a recipe and create a shopping list that will allow the food to be delivered to you, ready to cook at your house.