Creative Nature, the free from food manufacturer, has beaten back competition from across the country in its journey of being named the UK’s Small Business of the Year 2018 by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The winner was recognised for its continuous product innovation, inventive marketing, strong export model and rapid growth. In addition, the business was also awarded the FSB Scale-up Business of the Year Award.
“I’m thrilled to be recognised as the FSB Small Business of the Year 2018. As a small business, innovation is the key to the sustainability of our successful business performance,” said Creative Nature’s win, owner and chief executive Julianne Ponan. “We constantly focus on developing new and exciting products. Our products will constantly push the boundaries of free from and will introduce new taste and eating experiences for customers.”
Creative Nature was created in 2017 when it launched its first product in more than 2,000 Co-op stores, which quickly became one of the three best-selling healthy snacks. Julianne Ponan suffers from a medical condition called anaphylaxis, which made finding nut-free, additive-free healthy snacks a challenge until she decided to make her own.
“My congratulations to Creative Nature,” said FSB chairman Mike Cherry. “The awards clearly demonstrate how small businesses are embracing and driving innovation, technology and ecology to drive the UK’s export economy, inspire the next generation and, in many cases, help to look after our planet. Small businesses make for a strong economy and it is through supporting small businesses such as Creative Nature that we will continue to lead the world in entrepreneurialism.”
Since 2017, Creative Nature started exporting its range of more than 25 baking mix, green powder, healthy flapjack bar, superfood powder, wholefood and breakfast topping products to markets in Switzerland, Iceland, Jordan, Malta and Brunei.
