Introduction
Nestled in the heart of Chasetown, Café Fika has embarked on an extraordinary journey, becoming an integral part of the warm and welcoming Chasetown community. In this exclusive interview, we sit down with Louise Clarke, the driving force behind Café Fika, to delve into the café’s unique story, its commitment to local ingredients, and the secret behind its thriving menu. Join us as we uncover the heartwarming tale of a café that embodies the true spirit of community and culinary excellence.
The Interview with Louise
Burntwood Business: Hi Louise, Thank you for your time today. Can you tell us about the journey of Café Fika and how long you’ve been serving the Chasetown community?
Louise Clarke (Cafe Fika): Of course, Café Fika was born on February 12th, 2023, so we’ve been serving the Chasetown community for almost 12 months now. It’s been an incredible journey. The café was previously known as The Bakery, and when we saw it was up for sale in January 2023, we knew we had to make it ours. Our opening day on Sunday, February 12th, was a huge success, with over 500 local customers enjoying free hot drinks, cakes, and savouries. The warm and welcoming Chasetown community has been fantastic.
Burntwood Business: So we all want to know, what inspired the unique name ‘Café Fika,’ and is there a story behind it?
Louise Clarke (Cafe Fika): The name ‘Café Fika’ has a special meaning for us. My family has a rich history of working in Scandinavia, and ‘Fika’ is a Swedish term that signifies “sitting with family, friends, or colleagues, enjoying coffee or tea, and savouring good food.” We felt it was a perfect fit for our café, as it embodies the spirit of coming together over coffee and delicious food.
Burntwood Business: We love that! Thank you for that, We love backstories. So, how do you source your ingredients, and how important is local produce to your café?
Louise Clarke (Cafe Fika): Sourcing high-quality, local ingredients has always been our top priority. All our suppliers are local and well-established within the area. We believe in supporting the community by using locally sourced produce, which not only ensures freshness but also helps local businesses thrive.
Burntwood Business: We have seen your corporate platters and other offerings, so could you describe your most popular corporate platter and what makes them so unique and popular?
Louise Clarke (Cafe Fika): Our corporate platters and buffets have been a hit since we opened. We’ve tailored our breakfast and lunchtime meeting buffets and platters to meet the needs of our strong commercial presence in Chasetown & Burntwood. We also provide outside catering for weddings, birthdays, and special occasions, accommodating all dietary requirements. What makes them special is the attention to detail and the variety we offer, ensuring our customers’ events succeed. They all come back for more, so we are getting it right.
Burntwood Business: Another great offering you have is local delivery. What prompted the introduction of your delivery service, and how has it been received by the community?
Louise Clarke (Cafe Fika): Delivery is a vital part of our business, and we offer free deliveries within Chasetown & Burntwood for all orders over £10. We handle all the deliveries ourselves, eliminating the need for external delivery companies. This service has been warmly received by the community, making it more convenient for our customers to enjoy our offerings from the comfort of their homes or workplaces.
Burntwood Business: Of all the products you offer, for which there are many! Which is the best-selling, and why do you think it’s so popular?
Louise Clarke (Cafe Fika): Our menu is diverse, catering to various tastes. Some of our best-sellers include the Hot Pork Bap and the Slow Roast Beef wrapped in Yorkshire pudding. The secret to their popularity lies in the quality and the unique flavours we offer. We also feature weekly specials, like the classic Fish Finger Baguette or the indulgent Bacon, Brie, and Cranberry Sauce Panini, keeping our menu exciting. So please keep your eyes on our menu, it is constantly evolving.
Burntwood Business: Is there a particular product or dish that Café Fika is most proud of?
Louise Clarke (Cafe Fika): We’re proud of everything we serve, but our Hot Pork Bap and Slow Roast Beef in Yorkshire pudding have become fan favourites. They represent the quality and taste that Café Fika stands for. We may partake in a bap from time to time; we can’t resist them.
Burntwood Business: With all the other establishments in town, how do you keep your menu fresh and exciting for regular customers?
Louise Clarke (Cafe Fika): As we have said, we listen to our customers’ feedback and adjust our menu accordingly. Seasonal changes also play a role in keeping things fresh and exciting. By staying flexible and responsive, we ensure our menu continues to delight our regulars. Feedback and reviews always inspire us to push a little further!
Burntwood Business: On that note, could you share a memorable experience or feedback from one of your fans that has impacted Café Fika?
Louise Clarke (Cafe Fika): We value feedback immensely, and the reviews on our Google page have been outstanding. While there are too many to share, it’s those where customers feel we’ve gone the extra mile to support them that truly touch our hearts and motivate us to keep doing what we do.
Burntwood Business: In what ways do you think your fans and regular customers have contributed to Café Fika’s success?
Louise Clarke (Cafe Fika): Our loyal customer base has been instrumental in our success. Their support and feedback have helped shape the café and its offerings. Their trust in us has allowed Café Fika to flourish and continue providing excellent service. Of course, we always welcome a like and a follow on our Facebook page, too.
Burntwood Business: How does Café Fika engage with the local community beyond serving food and drinks?
Louise Clarke (Cafe Fika): Over the past year, we’ve engaged in various community projects, from supporting the Chasetown Christmas Light switch-on to making sandwiches for the homeless. As our business grows, we plan to continue and expand our involvement in projects that benefit the local community.
Burntwood Business: Have you faced any significant challenges in running Café Fika, and how have you overcome them?
Louise Clarke (Cafe Fika): Running Café Fika has had its challenges, especially with rising energy prices and food costs. However, we’ve managed to keep our menu prices unchanged, and we also offer discounted rates for OAPs on Mondays. Adapting to these challenges while maintaining our commitment to the community has been key to our success, and I think people notice things like that.
Burntwood Business: What are some sustainability practices that Café Fika follows or plans to implement?
Louise Clarke (Cafe Fika): Sustainability is important to us. We’ve started by changing our product packaging to be more eco-friendly. We encourage customers to bring their refill cups for a 10% discount on hot drinks. Our waste removal company supports a recycling program, and we minimize fuel use by coordinating supplier deliveries.
Burntwood Business: That’s great, Louise. Looking ahead, what are the future plans or aspirations for Café Fika?
Louise Clarke (Cafe Fika): We’re excited about the future of Café Fika. We want to continue developing our successful outside catering service and further enhance our outdoor eating area for customers, including hosting children’s parties. We’re grateful for the support and feedback we’ve received in our first year and are committed to building on this success.
Burntwood Business: Finally, for someone who has never visited Café Fika, how would you describe the experience they can expect?
Louise Clarke (Cafe Fika): If you haven’t had the pleasure of visiting Café Fika yet, I’d encourage you to take a look at the reviews we receive weekly. The experience you can expect is one of warm hospitality, delicious food, and a sense of community. We pride ourselves on creating a welcoming atmosphere where you can enjoy coffee, tea, great food, and the company.
Burntwood Business: Lousie, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us and give us a peek behind the curtain at Cafe Fika. We hope our readers continue to follow and support you. Rest assured we will be popping by for as Pork bap and a cake or two!
Final Words
Cafe Fika has been on our radar since we started promoting local businesses, and their efforts at Christmas and their homeless reach-out gave us cause to take notice. Thank you to everyone who helped us get this quick interview in the bag. Read more about Cafe Fika on their Facebook page or their Burntwood Business Listing.
