Startups Awards Hall of Fame: Pip Murray, Pip & Nut

Founders: Pip Murray
Year started: 2015
Website: www.pipandnut.com

Since its 2015 launch, nut butter and almond milk brand Pip & Nut has experienced stratospheric growth, and founder Pip Murray has come a long way from testing recipes in a garden shed.

A healthier alternative to sugar and fat-filled spreads, Murray’s products are free from palm oil, refined sugars, additives and preservatives – and equally enticing are their flavours, which range from honey cinnamon cashew to chocolate coconut hazelnut.

This, coupled with the business’ fun branding, has made Murray’s nut butter a popular choice for health fanatics and snack lovers alike, and it is now sold in over 3,000 store across the UK.

Meanwhile, the brand’s innovative 30g squeeze packs have been supplied to Chelsea Football Club and the England and Scotland rugby teams, and its 1kg tubs can be found behind the scenes at restaurant chains including LEON and Pret a Manger.

At the Startups Awards 2016, Murray took home the Women in Business Award, an accolade which celebrates exceptional female entrepreneurs.

Almost one year on, and with Pip & Nut boasting a whole range of exciting new products, Startups’ catches up with Murray to uncover her ambitious plans for the future…

What’s happened in the last year since you entered the Startups Awards?

A lot has happened over the past year! As a company we have grown a lot, so much so that we had to move to a bigger Nest (office) in May. We currently have a team of 11, plus some brilliant interns.

We have also launched seven new products: four new nut butters and three brand new almond milks. The almond milks mark our first foray out of the spreads category and are an exciting development for Pip & Nut.

We’ve also been working hard to win new listings in the UK, as well as preparing to launch into some new European markets.

What’s been the single biggest highlight for the business since winning?

Probably seeing our new almond milks on the shelves of Sainsbury’s. It took a long time to get there as it was a really complicated (sometimes very stressful!) project; however seeing them on the shelf makes it all worth it.

Murray accepting the 2016 Women in Business Award

What are you hoping to achieve in the next year or so?

We have some big plans for the next year or so. Predominantly we will be working on improving our distribution within the UK and trying to make Pip & Nut products as accessible as possible. We will also be working on establishing Pip & Nut in new territories, including The Netherlands, Norway and Iceland.

As well as that, we will be continuing to look at gaps in the market where we think we can innovate and start working on our next new products.

What did winning at the Startups Awards mean to you?

Winning at the Startups Awards last year meant a lot. It is easy to fly through the months and years and not really reflect on how far Pip & Nut has come as business since I started. Winning awards like this reminds you to take a step back and really appreciate how much progress we have made. It’s a great feeling!

Why would you recommend entering awards like this?

The process of entering awards is a good excuse to really consolidate all of your achievements, and can be helpful in pinpointing areas that might need a bit more attention. Also, they are a good opportunity to meet like-minded individuals from similar fields.

Of course, to win or be shortlisted is a great feeling and helps you realise that all the hard work is paying off!

Applications for the Startups Awards 2017 are now open! If you’re an ambitious female entrepreneur, click here to learn more about the Women in Business Award. To enter your business and follow in Murray’s footsteps, click here.