It is one of the hottest days of the year on one of the busiest roads in Hove, and sweltering passersby seek sanctuary and an organic strawberry ice lolly in Kernel of Hove’s small but cool interior. A large fan at the back of the shop is trying its level best to send a cooling breeze all the way to the front, setting a string of bunting all of a flutter as it wafts past and over the tops of shelves, boxes and baskets stuffed to the gunnels with delicious things. Teas for every requirement and local honey, delicious chocolate and freshly made falafel, and organic tequila. And in the fridge, bright, edible flowers cosy up to the locally grown microgreens and fresh goat's cheese from a Downland dairy. It is a store stocked with everything you want and many things you were unaware you needed until you just clapped your eyes on them this second.

Eamon and Louise Stack founded their wholefoods store, Kernel of Hove, in 2016. It came about partly because Eamon’s brother-in-law has one a couple of miles away in Brighton. When the premises Kernel now occupies became available, he and Louise decided to set up their enterprise based on their brother-in-law’s ‘template’, as Eamon puts it. As the manager of Camden Lock market, Eamon intended to keep working while Louise ran Kernel full time. Still, it soon became apparent that this little store, much like a newborn baby, would need a lot of attention, so Eamon took redundancy and came into the business full time.

How does it work between you? Who does what?

Eamon cites their complementary skills as the main reason for their success. “If it were left to me, I’d stock onions and potatoes and maybe oat milk.” Louise finds new suppliers, is always on the lookout for a new product and updates the stock. “She’s the brains, I’m just the dogsbody, and I love it.”

What’s the best thing about running your own business?

“The independence, even though it does mean you’re working all the time. The fact is it’s ours, we work for ourselves, and we’re not connected to someone else’s timetable.”

What keeps you connected to it?

“I really enjoy the customers, meeting people,” says Eamon “We lived here for twenty years and knew no one; now we know everyone.” Right on cue, a customer interrupts with, “where are the rads?” “You mean the radishes? We couldn’t get good enough ones today. And you’re interrupting my five minutes of fame!” The customer laughs and carries on shopping. “We serve our local community, you’ll get tourists when it’s a busy weekend, but we’re mainly a local business.”

When was your business at its worst?

Eamon “Ironically, business was at its worst when it was at its busiest, which was during the first lockdown. On the first day, it was three times busier than the busiest day we’d had previous to that. Which was great, but the stress and the work….” Starting early and finishing late, trying to stock shelves with what they had, chasing new stock, and, like everyone else, tracking down the ever elusive pasta and toilet roll. “People were taking boxes off me as I was coming up the stairs.” Doing deliveries for those customers who couldn’t get out. It was full-time and went on for months. “My son was helping us, and I think it’s put him off retail for life. It was a really difficult and stressful time. That was the worst.”

What advice would you give a fellow small business owner when times get tough?

On occasion - sometimes often - you fall out of love with your business, especially if you’re a one (or two) person band. Eamon and Louise have words of wisdom for anyone struggling. “Rember, it’s your business. Most people get disillusioned when they’re losing money. You’ve got to keep going, adapt and evolve, chop and change until you get your mojo back. And, while it seems counterproductive, remember to take time off for yourself, not anyone else.”

How do you show Kernel of Hove the love?

“We’ve not had a holiday for three years!” Shouts Louise from behind the counter. They love most aspects of their job, for Louise, it’s about finding great products. For Eamon, “It’s the customers; you have good craic. I enjoy the organising, the lugging and moving stuff around, it’s a bit of everything.”

What keeps you going when times are tough?

Eamon and Louise take a sidelong look at each other and smile “We support each other.” Though they freely admit they do need to take a look at just how much time they spend working on the business.

Kernel of Hove is a small, intimate place. The colours and beautiful designs of the packaging, the way they’re presented, and the sheer range of products constitute the decoration. It’s a joy to visit, but it’s the quality of the products and attention to detail that keeps the customers coming back. That and the craic.

This isn’t just any wholefoods store. This is Eamon and Louise’s wholefoods store.