Segun Akinwoleola, founder of the health food brand The Gym Kitchen, credits his early experiences at a local gym in Forest Gate, east London, with steering him away from potential involvement in gang culture. Growing up in a single-parent household, he and his brothers found the gym to be a safe space that kept them focused on positive activities.
Akinwoleola launched The Gym Kitchen in 2020 with an initial range of four ready meals, targeting consumers interested in nutrition and convenience. Since then, the company has expanded to offer over 50 products, including pancakes, frozen meals, porridge pots, and high-protein potato wedges. The brand reported a seven-figure turnover in 2025 and is now available in every major supermarket across the UK.
Despite early academic challenges—including failing key GCSEs in maths and English—Akinwoleola developed an entrepreneurial spirit from a young age, selling sweets to classmates during school breaks. After deciding to retake his exams at college, he shifted focus and earned a place at Surrey University to study business management, becoming the first in his family to attend university. During his studies, he secured a placement year as a marketing assistant with Coty, the owner of the Rimmel cosmetics brand. Following graduation with first-class honours, Akinwoleola returned to Coty in a role as category analyst, analyzing product performance and sales forecasts.
His career in the consumer goods sector continued with companies such as the Japanese chemical and cosmetics firm Kao Corporation and Revlon, before moving to Up&Go, an Australian breakfast drink brand expanding into the UK market. The experience broadened his knowledge of retail and consumer behavior, leading him to consider launching his own brand.
The Gym Kitchen idea was sparked during a 2016 supermarket visit after a workout, when Akinwoleola noticed ready meals focused solely on calorie counts, with little information on macronutrients like protein, carbohydrates, and fat—key elements for fitness enthusiasts. Conversations with gym-goers revealed a demand for convenient, affordable, high-protein meals that did not require meal prepping in bulk.
With support from Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, founder of The Black Farmer, Akinwoleola joined an incubator program that helped him develop the business from 2017, while working part-time at The Black Farmer. This backing proved instrumental in securing a manufacturing partner and convincing retailers to stock his products. The first listing came in Asda in January 2020.
Akinwoleola emphasizes that while The Gym Kitchen’s products are designed with gym-goers in mind, the brand aims to appeal to a mainstream audience through inclusive branding and approachable packaging. The company features diverse athletes on its packaging to reflect its commitment to inclusion and accessibility.
Looking ahead, The Gym Kitchen plans to expand its product range further and increase supermarket availability across the UK. Segun Akinwoleola is scheduled to speak at the UK Black Business Show on October 17, where he will also participate in a panel discussion hosted by The Times Entrepreneurs Network.