I’m Aline Burgmann, nan co-founder of Kooky – an award-winning marque specialising successful exotic, freeze-dried fruits. Together pinch my co-founder, Deena, we launched Kooky successful nan summertime of 2021, producing a scope of freeze-dried fruits from my autochthonal location of Thailand.
I’ve ever been highly fond of exotic super-fruits, and Mangosteen is my absolute favourite. I ever looked for it successful shops, but it’s very difficult to find. It’s either really uncommon aliases only disposable successful costly speciality stores. That’s why I made it my ngo to make this consequence much accessible and affordable, each while being sustainable.
Our existent statement of freeze-dried snacks includes mangosteen, dragon fruit, jackfruit, mango, durian and banana – fruits specifically chosen for wellness benefits – dried successful a measurement that is scientifically proven to support complete 90% of nan nutrients successful nan fruit, arsenic good arsenic their characteristic and awkwardness. I’m ever attracted to very different things, hence nan sanction Kooky.
How it each began
I first met my early co-founder, Deena, while we were some dropping our daughters disconnected astatine school. We began bonding complete our akin heritage, specifically complete our emotion for exotic fruits. We talked astir nan inaccessibility of these fruits successful nan UK and really we were looking for healthier snack options for our kids. We noticed a spread successful nan marketplace that had to beryllium filled, and from location Kooky was born.
At Kooky, we spot sustainability astatine nan bosom of our business. From time one, we person strived to go a B-corp business, which we’ve now achieved. For a mini business for illustration us, making decisions driven by intent isn’t usually nan astir evident choice, particularly economically. However, we felt it was thing that we couldn’t discuss on. Not only do we freeze-dry our consequence astatine nan root to trim discarded and c emissions, but we besides make judge that we minimise consequence waste, truthful nan parts that are inedible for humans are utilized arsenic feedstock to section workplace animals. We person this point called nan “Kooky Sustainability Circle”. Essentially, thing we extract from Mother Nature, we purpose to return, completing nan circle.
Where we are coming
We presently person a mini squad based successful nan UK, arsenic good arsenic a squad successful Thailand pinch our manufacturer. Since nan motorboat of Kooky successful July 2021, we’ve continued to turn astatine a dependable pace. For nan 1st 4th of 2024, our income reached astir 40% of what we achieved successful 2023.
Amazon’s domiciled successful our maturation
Amazon has provided a coagulated instauration for america to grow, pinch astir 20% of income coming from our store. Amazon has been awesome astatine supporting mini businesses for illustration america because it has truthful galore different programmes, specified arsenic Fulfilment by Amazon, that are designed to thief america succeed. Through FBA, Amazon takes attraction of our shipping and retention and has provided next-day shipping. This has streamlined nan full process and trim costs, allowing america to put much clip and money backmost into improving our products. I would person joined earlier if I could – it’s a awesome spot for group to effort our products.
What I spot for nan early
We dream to proceed to turn and grow into caller markets, peculiarly by exporting to Europe done Amazon. We besides purpose to proceed being a intent driven marque by uncovering caller ways to beryllium sustainable and continuing to partner pinch charities specified arsenic Women for Women International, which supports women caught successful nan crossfire of war. We want to support spreading Kooky’s halfway values of H.E.A.L.T.H which stands for health, empowerment, authenticity, revolutionary, taste, and sustainability. Ultimately, we want to proceed providing delicious and patient snacks to families astir nan UK.