Lela Duggan , a junior accounting major, is the founder of Lela Bee Kitchen, a health and wellness brand offering simple, nourishing recipes that are gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free. What began as a passion for cooking at age 12, inspired by her own experience with food intolerances, has grown into a business centered on making allergen-friendly foods enjoyable and accessible.
What is the story of your business? How did it start?
Lela Bee originally started when I was twelve years old, after my personal experience with food intolerances inspired a passion for cooking. Being unable to eat most of the “normal” foods left me feeling isolated, and I was determined to find a way to make gluten-free and dairy-free recipes that I actually enjoyed. I began experimenting in the kitchen, and it became one of my favorite things to do. In 2019, I created a small, local cooking business focused on providing gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free products. I received and fulfilled orders for customers throughout middle school and high school. During the summer of 2025, I was inspired to carry on this vision in a new way. I began building a brand with a mission to create healthy recipes free from common allergens. I want to encourage others who have had similar experiences. Discovering my love for cooking was such a healing part of my journey. I hope to use this business to inspire others through sharing my story and through the recipes I create.
What has been the most challenging part of launching your business? How did you overcome this?
The most challenging part of launching my business was being willing to take the first step. I wanted every detail to be perfectly planned and organized before starting my business, but I realized that if I kept waiting for the "perfect" time, it would never come. I needed to just start, even if it didn’t feel comfortable. I have learned that growth can only happen when I step out of my comfort zone. Ever since I took that first step, I have felt more confident about making decisions in my business. Now, every time I face a challenge in my business, I don’t wait for the fear to disappear. Instead, I think back to the relief and joy I felt once I chose to trust in myself. This is what encourages me to continue taking the next step in my business.
What is the goal behind your entrepreneurial pursuits? What do you envision for your business?
My ultimate vision is for Lela Bee Kitchen to become a place where people find valuable resources and information that empower them to invest in their health. The number of people with food allergies and intolerances has increased significantly in recent years, creating an opportunity for my business to serve this growing audience.
Does your business have a social mission or purpose? If so, explain how your business is redemptive in a Christlike manner?
My business seeks to honor the Lord through prioritizing physical health and wellness. As image-bearers of God, we are called to honor the Lord with our bodies. This includes being intentional about what we choose to eat. My hope and prayer is that this business will become a source of encouragement and inspiration for people to treat their bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit. “Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
How do you see your company having an impact on the Samford and/or Birmingham communities?
My business offers something that I believe would be influential in the Samford community. Prioritizing nutritional health can be especially difficult for college students who may not have experience cooking or building balanced meals. In order to address this issue, one of my goals for Lela Bee Kitchen is to provide resources such as meal plans, grocery lists and sample budgets. I want to make healthy eating feel simple, achievable and sustainable.
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