Tell us about your background and your journey to founding Re:Nourish
I was a critical care nurse at a busy London hospital, I am a qualified reflexologist and have background in nutrition, so health has always been in my DNA. I started a company called Nourished in 2010 which was nutrious meals to your door, similar to Hello Fresh/ Mindful Chef I had some high-profile people on Nourished including the whole cast of Downtown Abbey. Everyone loved my fresh soups, and this led me to the idea of soup in a grab and go microwaveable bottle. However, that bottle did not exist in the world! In 2018 I decided to design the bottle and get it made. It took 9 months and many designs however I launched Re;Nourish in March 2019 as the world’s first fresh soup in a microwaveable fully recyclable bottle.
You founded Re:Nourish in 2018 and have continued to grow the business successfully throughout the covid-pandemic, what qualities/actions do you believe are integral to building a company for longevity?
My background is health and I have a very credible background with my health qualifications. My belief is “food is medicine”. Our soups are packed with nutritious vitamins, no nasties at all and are delicious. People are looking for healthy convenient products that taste really good and that is what we are giving them at Re:Nourish hence we have continued to grow and are the fastest growing fresh soup brand in the UK and the only global fresh soup brand. Not bad accomplishments for a brand that been trading less than 3 years.
Last year, the company grew over 240%, what do you attribute this success to?
Hard work, Teamwork and offering something unique and authentic that gives a solution to health and convenience.
Congratulations on securing a £2,000,000 investment for Re:Nourish at the end of last year, how did you get started with fundraising and securing investment?
When I first started Re:Nourish my bank would not even give me a small overdraft even with great credit, a house and a great business plan. I had to sell my house to start Re:Nourish. Now, we are the fastest growing fresh soup brand in the world everyone is offering us money! My advice when taking investment is to really understand who you are taking money from and how they will fit into your company and if you need it. Handing over equity is money and can be one of the most expensive mistakes you make if you get it wrong.
What are the main components investors look for when deciding to invest?
We own the IP of the bottle globally and have the trademarking of the brand making it very valuable and therefore we are very investable. Soup is an $18.8bn global business and we are the only fresh soup in a grab and go microwaveable fully recyclable bottle. Investors look at the scalability of the brand, IP, market share, turnover, profit and whether the founder is investable!
As a female founder, what has been the biggest challenge you have faced?
Starting out my bank would not give me a small overdraft with good credit history and a great business plan as a female founder. This is shocking to be honest.
What is the goal for Re:Nourish over the next 3-5 years?
We are already launching into 10 countries globally. I want Re:Nourisht to be the best company to work for and known for it’s great value. I would like Re:Nourish to help in making a change with people’s health as there is a global obesity crisis leading to type 2 diabetes. I would like us to be globally recognised.
What is next for you?
Scaling Re:Nourish as a successful global brand and trying to balance work and life. Most founders work 7 days a week and I’m certainly no different.!
How can our readers find out more about yourself and Re:Nourish?
www.renourish.co.uk we are currently in Spinneys and Choithrams and do look at our Instagram @renourish_soup where we share health and wellness tips.
