International Women’s Day: Supplier Spotlight
To celebrate this special day, we’re shining light on four female-led brands we’re lucky enough to work with. But this isn’t the first time you’ve read a spotlight on female owned suppliers, remember Chika’s, Beefayre, Mindful Bites and Pollen+Grace? Keep on reading and get to know four other fiercely female brands.
Cecily’s
Founded by Cecily Mils, Cecily’s make delicious, creamy and completely natural coconut-based ice cream. With flavours ranging from choc orange swirl to rum ‘n’ raisin, no wonder customers go mad for the stuff.
Back in 2013, Cecily Mils was commuting from Brighton to London and recently had switched to a plant-based diet. Missing the taste of ice cream, she became obsessed with replicating the smooth, creamy indulgence, but in a natural, dairy-free version. She started making her own ice cream at home, using coconut milk and coconut sugar, and pretty quickly realised she was on to something. Cecily then launched her business in 2015 under the original brand name Coconuts Naturally. Within a year, the brand had secured its first Great Taste Award and a national distributor. And within two years they were listed on Ocado, exporting to Dubai, and had won another four Great Taste Awards.
In 2018, Cecily secured two investment offers from Dragons’ Den and a thrilling accolade from Peter Jones, who said her ice cream was the best he’d ever tasted in the free-from sector.
Further down the line, Coconuts Naturally became Coconuts Organic before landing on the current name Cecily’s. The new name comes with a completely new look that is clearer, bolder and all set to brighten up supermarket freezers. In 2020, the brand launched in the aisles of M&S where Cecily first started her retail career.
Good Bubble
After a pitch on Dragons’ Den in series 13, Amy Wordsworth secured a £60,000 investment from dragon Deboroah Meaden to build Good Bubble; her natural, vegan and cruelty free skin and haircare range.
Formulated with care and developed by industry experts, Good Bubble products are suitable for newborns and those with sensitive and eczema-prone skin. Each product is hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested, and the hair products contain no sulphates or silicones. Made with skin-loving super fruits and a mild, allergen-free fragrance, the products promise customers real results (without tears and with no nasties).
Good Bubble are proud to be tackling climate change with a UK-first packaging innovation and their brand new baby range. The new products come in bottles derived from sugarcane, dubbed the ‘next generation’ of eco-friendly packaging. Additionally, the ‘bio-plastic’ bottles offer families a lower carbon alternative to standard plastic, that is fully recyclable too. The pumps are also 100% recyclable, unlike most others on the market. At £4 per product, they offer a greener option that is kind to the planet.
This Works
The brainchild of Kathy Phillips and Dr Anna Persaud, This Works is a skincare and wellness brand that does precisely what it says on the tin. With products like anti-pollution face masks and innovative pillow sprays, this brand has followers all over the world.
This Works develop clean, targeted skincare and wellness solutions that work in harmony with your body clock. Investing in the science of sleep since 2004, their award-winning, natural sleep solutions have been through six independent user trials with over 900 participants. This means you can be confident that This Works is more than a name; it’s a promise.
Housing and homelessness charity Shelter has been a charity partner of This Works since 2017. They help those in need of a safe place to call home; a service that has seen a sharp increase in calls in the last months. For every sale of the bestelling 250ml Deep Sleep Pillow Spray, This Works have been donating £1 to Shelter.
ChicP
Founded in 2016 by food waste advocate and former chef Hannah McCollum, the ChicP houmous range proves that no fruit or vegetable should ever be discarded; but rather turned into delicious dips.
Hannah McCollum, set up ChicP to bring healthy, colourful dips to the food market. A houmous lover and tired of bland and unhealthy options, Hannah decided to combine her creative cooking and eagerness to help prevent food waste, to create healthy, punchy vegetable houmous from surplus vegetables.
Over the last five years, Hannah has cooked for families in the UK and all over Europe, predominantly as a private chef. She would often convert the leftover Ottolenghi type salads into dips for the next meal. Nearly every day the question would be “what’s the dip of the day Hannah”?
The houmous is made primarily from raw vegetables, one of the healthiest food options available. But this houmous is not just for eating as a dip, it also makes for a great accompaniment or sauce; add to chicken, veggies, pasta or as a spread. The list is endless, just be creative!
The houmous is free from gluten, dairy, nuts and pesticides, and the only allergen is sesame seeds. The Veggie Bites are a vegan and healthier alternative to falafel and pakora, and come in three flavours packed with vitamins and antioxidants. They’re the perfect ‘on the go’ snack, as they are so soft and tasty. Perfect dipped in the ChicP houmous, topped on a salad or rolled up in a flatbread with houmous and salad.