My first million: Lena Bjorck of Inn and Out

For a catering company that started out using London Underground to deliver its food, Inn and Out has come a long way. Founder Lena Bjorck (left) reveals the secrets of her success.

For a catering company that started out using London Underground to deliver its food, Inn and Out has come a long way. And no one is more aware of this than Lena Bjorck, its 38-year-old Swedish founder. Last week, she was feeding her country's king and queen; next month, she's off to the Paris Air Show, where BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce have called on her firm's services.

It's a far cry from preparing Pyrex dishes in her tiny three-by-three-metre East London kitchen in 1996. Then she had just quit her job as breakfast supervisor at a large hotel, exasperated by the detached environment. "It was just the general attitude. I felt that people working in the service industry didn't like serving people." She thought they should, and decided to strike out alone with a catering firm. "The more people began to make fun of me, the more determined I became."

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Jody Clarke

Jody studied at the University of Limerick and was a senior writer for MoneyWeek. Jody is experienced in interviewing, for example digging into the lives of an ex-M15 agent and quirky business owners who have made millions. Jody’s other areas of expertise include advice on funds, stocks and house prices.