A FOOD business which started with one truck, two brothers and a dream is preparing to bring its famous loaded baked potatoes to Ashton-under-Lyne.
Hustle N Spud was founded by Oldham brothers Mohammed Shahazad and Mohammed Shamsu, who built the business from the ground up with no major investors or fancy premises.
Instead, the pair started with a simple food truck and a determination to serve generous, quality baked potatoes while treating every customer like family.
They began serving customers across Oldham, turning up day after day and building a following through word of mouth and social media.
Their loaded spuds soon attracted attention well beyond Oldham, with food lovers sharing pictures and videos of their creations online and helping the brothers build a loyal following.
But for Shahazad and Shamsu, the business has never been solely about making money.
During the busiest periods of the Covid pandemic, the brothers gave free meals to NHS staff, while they have also supported charities working with autistic people and homeless communities.
They say they want to do even more in the future, with the support of the communities around them.
Their growing reputation has also earned them recognition from some of the biggest names in the baked potato scene.
Spud Man has publicly praised their work, while the Spud Brothers from Preston have also visited the business and shown their support – recognition which the brothers say means a great deal after starting out with so little.
“We started with nothing but an idea and a willingness to work harder than anyone else,” the brothers said.
“Every spud we serve has our heart in it. We don’t cut corners, we don’t compromise on quality – and we never forget where we came from.”
After establishing themselves in Oldham and receiving a warm response to a pop-up in Stockport, Hustle N Spud is now preparing for its next move, with Ashton-under-Lyne set to become the latest home for its loaded spuds.