48. Rebel Kitchen

Founders: Tamara and Ben Arbib
Founded: January 2014
Website: www.rebel-kitchen.com

Having founded The A Team Foundation in 2010, a charitable foundation aimed at revolutionising the UK’s approach to food, health and sustainability, Tamara Arbib – Startups Awards Mumpreneur of the Year – realised that while charity was doing its best to push a positive agenda, food corporations were still only fixated on profit.

In January 2014, alongside her husband Ben (who previously had spent 15 years in private equity), she launched Startups 100 2015-featured Rebel Kitchen, a range of ‘mylk’ drinks made from a base of “ethically sourced” coconut. Blending the coconut with Somerset water – the drinks also include natural ingredients such as fairtrade cacao, date nectar, Brazilian oranges and bananas. The company claims its products are all lactose-free, suitable for vegans and contain no additives, preservatives or refined sugars. For adults, Rebel kitchen also produces chocolate, matcha green tea, chai and coffee. Clearly creating somewhat of a winning formula, within its first year of trading, the brand secured listings in Waitrose, Ocado, Tesco, Wholefoods Market and has already expanded into 20 global territories. It is continuing to expand distribution in the US; recently gaining listings in the Wholefoods Market Northern California region.

With prices starting at 99p per carton, Rebel Kitchen strives to maintain a competitive price point in a market that often tries to charge a premium for ‘healthier’ products. Having acquired Unoco raw coconut water at the start of 2016, the business plans to accelerate its growth within the UK coconut space. Now with coconut water and yoghurts within its portfolio, it will also continue to grow its mylk range and expand distribution in the US. Look like a busy 12 months.