Imagination. Creativity. Determination.  This is the strap-line for SUSO, Britain's first 100% fruit juice that is carbonated, but without additives. These attributes also describe its co-founder, mother of three, Tara Macdonald.

Prior to launching SUSO, Tara was on the factory floor as manufacturing manager for Glenmorangie, the family business. The family's stake was sold by Tara's father, the former chairman David Macdonald in 2004 to Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy. Vivacious and unassuming, she founded SUSO four years ago along with three other partners. They wanted to create a healthy but refreshing carbonated drink from 100% juice. Packaged in a 250ml can, they choose berry, orange and lemon as the initial launch flavours and decided to aim the product at teens and young people to encourage and instill a healthier soft-drink habit. SUSO is now sold in over 1500 schools and can be found in a limited number of supermarkets and off trade throughout the UK including ASDA, Total Garages and Sainsbury's. They have recently introduced sparkling apple, which is selling well.

• Why do you do what you do?
  I have always worked in business and loved it but had never created anything myself. I really wanted to do this and have the experience of giving birth to, and nurturing a product/company, through all the ups and downs of its life. We officially launched SUSO two years ago and there have been some fantastic moments and also some real challenges, such as when we had to switch suppliers at the last minute because they wanted to introduce an artificial substance into the product that dissolves after 24 hours and which they assured us would be fine for people to drink.


• What achievement are you most proud of?
  In a business sense it was when I saw SUSO on the shelves of Tesco for the first time after two years of product development and investor discussions.  However, in general terms I was most proud when my dissertation was published in a European marketing journal.


• What is your most memorable moment?
  Sitting in a lawyers office in London at 10pm on a Friday night having missed my flight home waiting to sign the investor agreements. We knew that the documents represented a real opportunity to make SUSO available to young people throughout the UK within a year.


• If you were Prime Minister, what one thing would you do to encourage more people to eat British food?
  I would support initiatives such as British Food Fortnight and get people interested in British food from as early an age as possible.  If, as children, people can see how much fun it is to buy, prepare and taste good British food then not much encouragement should be necessary later. We have so much history in this country of different tastes and ways to prepare food.  We have a fantastic farming community who provide it, why do we need to buy from abroad as much as we do?


• What is your favourite food and why?
  I love seafood as it tastes so good and feels quite indulgent. With a lovely glass of crisp, cold white wine, what could be better? Most of the sea food we eat is from Scotland but Scotland exports huge amounts too. We should all be able to get more at home, and I believe more chefs should offer real seafood on their menus.


• What are your predictions for the future of British food?
  I believe that if the government sets the example and gets behind the farmers, British producers and British food initiatives I think British food will grow from strength to strength. People are looking to get value for money so buying fresh British food is the best way.


• If you were an advertising executive, what slogan would you use to promote British food?
  Eat Well, Eat British


• Beat the recession tip?
  All the obvious ones: buy things in season; buy in small quantities so you don't waste anything; buy from your local market and save on packaging; go to pick-your-own farms; cook and entertain at home, and shop around.


• What's on the menu this evening?
  The weather is lovely so we are having friends for a BBQ. Squid marinated in chilli and oil, scallops marinated in white wine, garlic and oil and whole sea bass simply done with lemon, oil and seasoning. Then to follow, barbecued fruit with fresh orange juice, honey, halved walnuts and a wee drop of Glenmorangie.


• How can people get hold of your produce?
  SUSO is available at Tesco, Sainsbury's, ASDA, Morrisons and Waitrose as well as schools nationwide.