Nikia M. Lightfoot - Vujee Vegan

Nikia M. Lightfoot

Life is Good, Food is Great

By Terry L. Watson

Photos Provided by Fredro Star Photography

To be a successful entrepreneur, one must possess a few key qualities or traits; some are fortitude, determination, resilience, flexibility, and patience. Without these, it may be impossible to withstand the ups and downs, as well as the unpredictableness that entrepreneurship can bring. For Huntsville, AL, native Nikia Lightfoot has exhibited several of these and has built a brand that exemplifies them all.

Nikia is a twelve-year breast cancer survivor, and upon learning of her diagnosis, she responded by implementing several lifestyle changes, with one being her diet. She says, “At the age of 34, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and knew, from research, that my chances of survival were largely dependent on changing my diet and lifestyle to a plant-based regimen. After a year, I returned to eating poultry and seafood but soon developed internal physiological issues. My body began rejecting animal and dairy products, and when I stopped that practice, my internal issues disappeared. However, I was left with the burning desire to have a restaurant where I could use my culinary skills to dispel the myths about plant-based meals and help people, especially cancer survivors, learn that there are more options than baked potatoes and salads. It’s a delicious alternative with loads of potential health benefits for everyone.” That began Nikia’s whirlwind adventure in the vegan/ plant-based food industry.

At the age of 34, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and knew, from research, that my chances of survival were largely dependent on changing my diet and lifestyle to a plantbased regimen.

Today, Nikia is the owner of Vujee Vegan, an award-winning mobile food kitchen that provides a 100% vegan and plant-based menu and is known for offering its customers fast and flexible services in several locations. Vujee Vegan was birthed on September 16, 2020, during the Covid pandemic. Nikia shares that her customers can place their orders online and also utilize third-party delivery services. Vujee Vegan’s daily menu consists of burgers, including their Basic, Cheeze, Bae-K’n, Western, and Doubles. They also offer Chicken Sandwiches that come in a variety of options, such as Fried, Buffalo, and Nashville Hot. Additionally, there are Chick’n Nuggets, Shrymp Baskets and Sandwiches, Homemade Chili & Cornbread, Salads, Waffle Fries, Smoked BBQ Ribz, Mack’n Cheeze, Salisbury Steak, Homemade Cakes, and assorted cookies. Nikia also offers meal prep and catering services.

The urge to do something entrepreneurial and extraordinary has been something Nikia says she has wanted to do since childhood. She adds, “I believe I was inspired by my parents as I watched them build their successful businesses from the ground up. It was, therefore, no surprise that by age 12, I knew I would be a restaurateur. It became more apparent as I got engrossed in the art of cooking, working alongside my grandmother and mother in the kitchen. What I did not know was how it would happen. I just had a dream and knew it would be realized someday.” Unfortunately, or possibly fortunately, the catalyst for Nikia’s dream was laid out unexpectedly with her cancer diagnosis.

Nikia is the proud daughter of two amazing parents and the youngest of two older sisters. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and from the Florida Institute of Technology with a Master of Science degree in Logistics Management. In addition to managing Vujee Vegan, Nikia is employed full-time, supporting the Department of Defense. She is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., the Young Survivors Coalition, and volunteers with the American Red Cross, the Downtown Rescue Mission, and the Mommy Love Foundation. She has served on the VBD Board of Directors, an organization that provides grants to nonprofits in the community, and the Board of Directors for the KFJ Memorial Foundation, a breast cancer foundation that services the needs of women and men fighting breast cancer. In 2021, Nikia released her first book, My Breast Cancer Journey Journal. She says it was inspired by her journey and is a great tool for women who are fighting the horrible disease.

There are so many people who Nikia says have impacted her life, including her parents, and she credits her mother with being the most significant one of them all. Nikia shares, “My mother is a wonderful friend who has stood beside me through the good and bad times. She continues to love and support me unconditionally and always has something inspiring and positive to say. She prays for and encourages me and has taught me to be honest, work hard, give back, respect myself and others, and be a woman of integrity. All the advice and the life lessons she has given me continue to shape my values. I admire her strength, and I am exceptionally proud to be her daughter.”

Nikia says she loves working in the restaurant industry, mainly because of the fast-paced environment it offers. She also loves the opportunity to meet and connect with so many people from different backgrounds. “It’s so fulfilling seeing customers happy and satisfied with their meal,” Nikia shares.

The challenges Nikia has faced with managing her award-winning business involve moving her plant-based food delivery service to the next level. She says, “As a high-demand food truck system, I implement personal strategies that help attract the best quality staff who meet current and future needs. Over the previous four years, Vujee Vegan has grown from selling at farmers’ markets to renting a food trailer. We pivoted to a ghost kitchen and purchased our own food trailer in 2023. With this growth, we have hired more staff to keep up with the high demand for products”.

For other aspiring entrepreneurs who follow a path similar to the one Nikia has taken, she offers some sound advice. She says, “Find your niche and research the market, and determine what solution you are bringing. What makes you stand out? You must also write a business plan and understand your “why.” You must follow your heart. Don’t let anyone intimidate you because you are doing the same thing or something similar. There is enough room for everybody. Don’t tell everybody your dreams and visions. Everybody doesn’t have good intentions or advice, and remember, the vision and dream were given to you. Also, don’t let social media fool you. Being an entrepreneur is hard work, and you need to have thick skin. It’s an emotional roller coaster, and it takes a lot of time and money to build a sustaining business. Understand that you will make a lot of mistakes, so don’t be afraid to ask for help. Finding a mentor in the industry with a successful track record is also a good idea. Give yourself grace and network. Build a strong and supportive team. And finally, enjoy the journey!”

Looking ahead, Nikia has plans to open her first store in Huntsville in 2025. “We can’t wait for each customer to fully experience Vujee Vegan,” she shares. There is interest outside of Huntsville and Alabama, and Nikia says that she is open to all possibilities.

www.vujeeveganllc.com