Sam Alselwi, 24, from Toxteth, now living in Liverpool city centre, opened CluckBox last March on a quiet residential road. The takeaway specialises in Nashville fried chicken, smashed burgers and signature loaded boxes. Sam told the Liverpool Echo: "We've also got a meal prep company called Sam's Kitchen where we primarily make healthy meals for students, professionals and gym-goers. Last year we decided to do something different because we only operate twice a day for that business and we have the whole space."
From Dark Kitchen to Larger Premises
Originally running CluckBox out of a dark kitchen on Carter Street in Toxteth, the takeaway expanded to larger premises on Park Road in Dingle in April. Sam said: "It's great because now customers can come in and we get to interact with people which is a lot better than just handing orders to delivery app drivers all the time." The move allowed for direct customer interaction and growth.
Sam, a mechanical engineer for the last three years, quit his job for six months to focus on establishing the business and opening the new site. He said: "I’ve recently gone back to my full time job so it’s very hectic trying to balance everything but my biggest support is my family. I don’t treat CluckBox as my own business, I treat it as my family's business." He credited his brother Ilal, who is at university but helps manage the shop, and his mother, who assists with meal prep.
Engineering Skills Applied to Food
Despite the lack of obvious crossover, Sam said his engineering background has been key. "As a mechanical engineer I feel like engineering is a skillset you can apply to anything, whether that’s the food industry or things like construction. It’s about having knowledge and knowing how to apply it." He added: "I love cooking and creating new recipes and the best part is when people taste it and when they love it you feel so much satisfaction."
Customers Travel from Birmingham and London
Sam reported that people come from different cities like Birmingham and London to try his food. He said: "I’ve only been established for a year and the feedback I get is amazing. People come from different cities like Birmingham and London and they always say lovely things and leave great reviews." The takeaway's popularity has grown significantly.
What Sets CluckBox Apart
Sam emphasised the unique flavours: "All the chicken we use are fresh fillets that get delivered weekly, we use aged Angus beef which we get from London and all our sauces are homemade." He also noted: "We cater to everyone and we do loaded boxes which are great for groups because you get a bit of everything. We even have really spicy chicken tenders because we use Carolina Reaper chili peppers and it gets people crying but people love it." Nothing is frozen, and everything is made fresh.
Sam's vision includes expansion: "I'm already planning to open a new location because I know it's got a lot of potential." He also plans to introduce desserts and ice creams. He said: "There’s been a lot of growth and we’re always bringing new stuff out. We’re going to start doing desserts and ice creams and my vision from the beginning has always been to be a franchise at some point."
Family Support and Future Plans
Sam started the business with no investment or support. He said: "I knew it was going to be a big risk but I've always liked to challenge myself and growth is all about taking risks and even if it fails you're going to learn something from that." He treats CluckBox as a family business and enjoys giving people jobs and putting smiles on faces. He concluded: "No one ever starts knowing everything, you have to start somewhere and then you just keep developing."
