I’m very excited to be sharing another Behind the Biz interview with you this week. If you’re new around here, Behind the Biz is my weekly interview series where I discover awesome businesses, the people behind them and their business journey.
In today’s Behind the Biz interview I’m chatting with the James Averdieck, the co-founder of The Coconut Collaborative.
Please tell us about your business.
The Coconut Collaborative is a three year old food start up with a mission to be the #1 premium free from yogurt and dessert brand in the UK and beyond. We are the best selling non dairy yogurt in Europe and currently sell in UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Austria and New Zealand. Our yogurt, in particular is unique because despite being non dairy, it is thick and creamy and absolutely doesn’t compromise on taste.
Where did the inspiration for The Coconut Collaborative come from?
After Gu days I came across coconut milk. It tasted great and I new I could make a product that tastes as good as dairy.
How did you decide upon the name of your business?
The agency Big Fish came up with the brand identity and pack of both Gu and The Coconut Collaborative.
What did you do before starting The Coconut Collaborative?
Founder and CEO of Gu.
Did you always plan to set up your own business?
Yes
What has been the biggest challenge in running your business so far?
Coconut milk is not as straight forward as cows milk to manufacture and it is much more expensive. Also, it is quite polarizing, so overcoming the barrier to taste can be quite challenging.
What has been the highlight of your business journey to date?
Becoming market leader in short period of time. The coconut yogurt market is still quite small but it is growing extremely quickly.
What role does social media play for your business and do you have a favourite social platform?
We have a hugely loyal and engaged following across all of our platforms, especially on Instagram. We have grown our following organically through tailored and engaging content. We have particularly focused on Instagram this year; everything we post on there really embodies our brand tone of voice.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs?
Go and work for the best company in the field. Believe in yourself.
Where do you hope to take your business in the year ahead?
We will launch in the USA later this year and will continue to grow our European expansion, too.
You can find The Coconut Collaborative in Waitrose and Sainsbury’s and more stockists can be found on their site. Follow them over on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
I want to say a huge thank you to James for taking part in Behind the Biz. I’m a very big fan of The Coconut Collaborative and can confirm that everything from their natural yogurt to their frozen yogurt are delicious. I really enjoyed finding out about their business journey and wish them the best of luck with their USA launch.