FORMER baker Rob Cunningham is already cooking up plans to expand oven valeting service Ovenu Petersfield as he celebrates his first year in business.

With more than 500 clients on his books and an ever-growing number of enquiries, he is preparing to recruit an additional oven valeter.

Rob said: “People told me I was mad to set up a business during a pandemic, especially one I had to build from scratch.

“But I’ve not looked back and have reached a point where I need to take someone else on.”

Rob launched the franchised business last January after Covid-19 prompted him to reassess his work-life balance.

Before then he worked as a baker for high street names including Starbucks, Pret a Manger and Waitrose.

And the cat owner’s love of animals is also endearing him to many clients after he launched a ‘pet of the day’ feature on his Facebook page.

He said: “Some oven cleaning businesses take a before and after photo of their handiwork, but I like to include a family pet if possible, whether it be a dog or a goldfish. It’s a bit of fun and I’ve received lots of positive feedback.”