“After I had Jacob, I realized that the clearance sections of supermarkets were boring – back then there was nothing. I wanted to create something to feel like I’m not alone in this world of allergies – I made something that Jacob can eat and others could also benefit from. .”

Kirsty first discovered the severity of Jacob’s allergies at six months. Jacob went into anaphylaxis as a result of Kirsty kissing him on the mouth an hour after he unknowingly tasted peanuts.

But at the time, Kirsty said the selection of anti-allergy options in supermarkets was “boring”. Kirsty worked late as a barman to pay the rent on a two-bed house for them while raising their son alone as a teenage mother. When Jacob was three, after picking up an ice cream maker from Argos for £30, Kirsty developed a tasty, dairy-free recipe.

She thought others would benefit too and started a business with a small producer to sell it in local health food stores – funding it by picking up extra shifts at work. After drawing up a business plan, she took the idea to Dragon’s Den in 2010 – and secured £65,000 in investment. She said: “I was naive and I was so nervous.”

In the years that followed, the brand moved away from ice cream and into frozen and chilled ready meals, pizza and eventually desserts. After three years, he was able to buy the Dragons from their investment. Kirsty’s products are already seen on the shelves of supermarkets including SoSainsbury’s, Morrison’s, TescoNice and Co-op. She said: “Now, we’re known to be a brand that doesn’t have, but we’re not just selling to people with allergies.”

The brand now has a factory in Yorkshire where 90% of their products are made and is working to become carbon neutral. The company now has about 60 employees – including her son Jacob, the inspiration behind the entire company.

Kirsty, also mum to six-year-old Sophie, said: “Sales are £15m a year and we are aiming to get it to £25m in the next two years.

“For me, the learning of the last few years has been huge – I think I could write a business degree from everything I’ve learned.

“I never stop to think how far I’ve come, but I’m very pleased. It wasn’t easy. But I never gave up hope and I want to show my kids what you can achieve if you work hard.

“I just want to normalize without food – that actually tastes good and is healthy. It’s something that can be part of your diet, allergies or not.”