Lucy O'Donnell Biography

Lucy O’Donnell is the Founder and Managing Director of Lovedean Granola, a company launched in 2005 producing what is acknowledged to be the most superior granola product on the UK market.

The idea for Lovedean Granola came to Lucy whilst on a family holiday to the Alps. Having always known breakfast to be the most important meal of the day, Lucy soon fast discovered the pleasures and health benefits of the granola that she ate every day in the mountains. Knowing that the product was not widely available in the UK, Lucy began making granola at home to provide her family with a healthy start to their day. It wasn’t long before friends started to order Lucy’s Lovedean granola, (named after her former home, where Lovedean was first produced) and through advice and much encouragement from friends, Lucy’s entrepreneurial spirit turned a fun hobby into the award-winning and successful business it is today. The calibre of some of those involved in the creation of Lovedean is testament to Lucy’s drive and business sense. The late Mark Birley was instrumental in the business, encouraging Lucy from the outset (he even had his driver collect a weekly personal supply!) and stocking it in his clubs, ‘George’ and ‘The Bath and Raquets’. Rupert Hambro (Hambro’s Bank) is an investor, a clear indication of its success. Due to popular demand, Lucy researched and created 4 different varieties of granola and these are now available nationwide, in prestigious stores such as Selfridges, Wholefoods and Fortnum & Mason.

Before creating Lovedean, Lucy’s creative mind and entrepreneurial spirit have resulted in other successful businesses. In the late 1990s she spotted early the growing popularity of pashmina scarves and created a business importing and selling these luxurious items. Prior to that, Lucy set up Pinpoint Designs, a one-stop re-location company which catered to foreign companies (mainly based in the USA) who wanted to open satellite offices in the UK.

Another feather in Lucy’s cap has been her role in the creation of the celebrity cookbook - "Favourite Food from Famous Faces", sold in aid of the Khao Lak Community Appeal, a charity supporting victims of the 2004 Tsunami. Lucy was instrumental in persuading some of the UK’s most famous faces to contribute to this worthwhile cause.