Speciality Food Magazine June 2024

25 Marietta Hickman CHEEKY NIBBLE Tourette Syndrome and autism sufferer Marietta founded Cheeky Nibble in 2021. Having found that exercise and baking helped manage her mental health, she brought her two passions together to create the business, which is on a mission to spread joy through truly delicious snacks and cereals which are free from allergens, yet full of flavour. Cheeky Nibble specialises in vegan, top 14 allergen-free granola, inspired by classic British desserts and drinks, including Cherry Bakewell, Victoria Sponge, Banoffee Pie and Vanilla Latte. They are all made in a BRCAA bakery, which is a dedicated peanut and tree nut free environment, and formed into clusters which make an indulgent breakfast or snack – the first hybrid granola product in the UK. The packaging is recyclable, with boxes printed with carbon balancing, allowing customers to make a delicious and ethical choice. cheekynibble.com specialityfoodmagazine.com Monique Farquharson THE MATCHA YAAD Monique is the visionary behind this brand, which beautifully marries the vibrant flavours of Jamaica with the elegant tradition of Japanese matcha. Monique’s journey began in Jamaica, where she was introduced to matcha at university as an alternative to coffee. After discovering the drink’s health benefits, a passion was ignited which led her to Japan. She spent nearly two years immersing herself in the art of matcha and Japanese tea ceremonies under the guidance of her sensei, affiliated with Urasenke - a renowned institution dedicated to the art of tea. This immersive experience not only deepened her appreciation for matcha, but also sparked the idea of creating a unique fusion of Jamaican and Japanese cultures through innovative beverages. She then ventured to the UK and established The Matcha Yaad, offering products that celebrate authenticity, creativity, and wellness. The Matcha Yaad’s flagship product, the Ginger Refresher, is a testament to Monique’s innovative spirit. This beverage combines the antioxidant-rich properties of Japanese matcha with the bold, spicy notes of Jamaican flavours, creating a unique and invigorating drink. thematchayaad.com Edward van der Lande MORE TODDLER MEALS More Toddler Meals (MTM) was founded while Edward was deployed to Somalia with the British Army in 2022, leaving behind his working wife and toddler son. He realised there was a gap in the market for genuinely convenient and nutritious meals aimed at growing tots, and the more he researched, the more he realised there was also a big problem in the UK with early years nutrition. Around 15% of children starting primary school, he discovered, were obese, 55% of children aged four and under had two or fewer portions of vegetables per day, and 24% of UK parents to children of this age and under felt guilty about their child’s daily diet. Edward’s mission with MTM was to craft meals with toddler development in mind, to encourage healthy eating from the earliest of years, exciting young imaginations through great taste and colourful packaging. Uniquely, MTMmeals are freeze-dried once cooked. They are lightweight and can be taken anywhere. They just need hot water added to prepare them in minutes, making them fantastic for busy parents who need to quickly feed their child when on the go, on holiday, or before a hunger-induced tantrum erupts. moretoddlermeals.co.uk Matt and Kit Newell HIVE MIND Brothers Matt and Kit launched HIve Mind in 2018 after Matt’s hobby of beekeeping was overproducing honey. They decided there was no better use for the product than to turn it into mead. Matt and Kit’s goal is to revolutionise the mead world, and produce meads unlike anyone has ever tasted before. They began with lighter style, sparkling drinks using additions such as Citra hops, designing their products in line with the craft beer world, to tempt in beer and cider drinkers – and winning a Great Taste award for their first commercial batch. Five years on, the brothers now make a range of six sparkling meads in 330ml cans, six styles of traditional mead, melomels (fruit meads), braggots (honey beers) and a honey rum. One of their proudest moments was winning a Great Taste Golden Fork for Wales in 2023 for their flagship traditional mead, which can now be found in Michelin Star restaurants. The pair say they love to push the boundaries of what can be done with honey, being careful to showcase its provenance and fantastic flavours. hivemindmead.com Bella Acland SOUL KITCHEN Bella founded Soul Kitchen while at university, where the keen foodie found herself frustrated at the lack of nutrition and flavour of cup noodles and instant soups. By blending high quality, nutrient rich vegetable powders, superfoods, herbs and spices in her kitchen at home, Bella quickly realised that more people needed to try her recipes. Soul Kitchen soups are the perfect convenient solution without any compromise on quality or flavour. The brand is on a mission to disrupt the instant soup category with its delicious, 100% plant-powered products which are packed with real veggies and only natural flavours. They’re the only vegan, gluten-free and palm oil-free instant soups currently available on the UK market. Having been selected as one the most promising healthy challenger brands for Mission Ventures Good Food Program, Bella’s business has gone from strength to strength following a full rebrand and innovative NPD. wearesoulkitchen.com PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH