While looking for people to run it, he eventually met Hodgson, who had recently graduated with a degree in food science.

When they opened in July 1979, their yoghurt tasted terrible, which was eventually traced to the varnish on the curing cupboards.

They launched the shop with a line of ice creams and homemade soft cheeses, and within a few months had solved the problems with the yoghurt.

[3][4] The original store, located in Neal's Yard, Covent Garden, London, is considered an important part of the revival of the immediate area.

The new owners were still learning how to make cheese, and "had only managed yoghurt that day, so it all rather descended into a Monty Python sketch".