BUSINESS
Kent
SMALL BUSINESSES
OLIVIA RICCINI ROUNDS UP A SELECTION OF KENT SMALL BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURS WHO HAVE ENTERED THE NEW YEAR BURSTING WITH IDEAS AND INSPIRATION .
NuttyOgoo
Thibaut Laourou , also known as Ogoo , started NuttyOgoo , a small family run business that produces handmade organic peanut crackers and cold-pressed peanut oil , with his wife Paulina and their daughter Juliana . Speaking about growing up in West Africa , in the Republic of Benin , Thibaut , who now lives in Sevenoaks , explains : “ Peanuts are part of our daily diet and we do more with it than just roasted peanuts and peanut butter . I thought it was time to introduce my adoptive country , the UK , to some delicious and nutritious way of enjoying peanuts .’’ The company aims to only use quality organic ingredients in the production of their products , and work directly with organic peanut farmers in West Africa to ensure a fair price to the local farmers and to help look after local communities .
NuttyOgoo is currently part of the Thrive with Sainsbury ’ s programme – a free 16-week mentorship designed to support black-founder-led brands on their journey from start-up to supermarket shelves . In partnership with Foundervine and Mission Ventures , participants have received a welcome grant of £ 20,000 , as well as more than 150 hours of practical 1:1 support and group learning opportunities with a variety of subject matter experts during the process . Each participant ’ s journey has been tailored to their specific needs and there will be additional funding available at various stages throughout the process up to the value of £ 105,000 per brand that makes its way to a listing at Sainsbury ’ s .
www . nuttyogoo . co . uk Nuttyogoo nuttyogoo
JSL Essentials
After growing up in the Kent countryside on an agricultural farm , founder of Faversham-based JSL Essentials , Katie Warner began to formulate and manufacture plant-based skin , hair and homecare products in her lab by hand , as well as bottle and label each product batch herself . “ The journey started from a very young age ,” says Katie . “ Growing up , I learnt a great deal about plants and their nutritional value . Inspired by my parents ' hard work on their small holding , I always knew I wanted to incorporate my farming roots within a business venture , which is where the inspiration of creating plant-based beauty products originated . Unfortunately I lost my father to mental health 12 years ago , which is when I began formulating . Each product formula has taken many years to perfect . I undertook a Product Legislation course as well as an Organic Skincare Making course and eventually gained my Cosmetic Product Safety Reports for each formula .” For Katie , this was an incredibly gruelling process , but her desire to dedicate something to her late father was the sole motivation that led to her success . “ JSL were my father ’ s initials ; the entire range is dedicated to him and all the wonderful plant-based knowledge he passed on to me . Mental health is a cause that lies very close to my heart , so a percentage of every sale goes towards the Samaritans charity . We are an eco-friendly company using plant-based products , bottles that are 35 % recycled , and recyclable / compostable packaging . With every sale made , a tree is planted via a company called Ecologi .”
www . jslessentials . com JSL Essentials jsl . essentials
Jess Anne Textiles
Combining her passion for fabrics and colour with her love of tradition , Broadstairs local Jess Anne pounced on the chance to study woven design for fashion and interiors . Since then , woven design became her primary focus and after years of study and exploration , Jess set up her own textiles business creating her own unique scarves , shawls , pieces of art and more . “ I have always been a creative personality and as a child I was always buried in the corner of my room somewhere creating something or drawing . Although I have many passions for all types of creative process and mediums , textiles has always been the one that ’ s fascinated me most . Sitting with my grandmother watching her use her sewing machine , seeing all the colourful yarns that my mother kept while she would knit some kind of bonkers jumper , my younger self was always imagining what I could possibly create next . I used to go to the local haberdashery , pocket money in hand and raid the 5p scrap fabric bin , running home and creating patchwork cushions and tiny teddies , and I always dreamed of the things I could create when I was older .”
www . jessann . com JESS ANNE jess _ anne _ official
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