16 . Glasgow Business February 2015
GLASGOW BUSINESS AWARDS 2014 WINNER
Tracey Hogarth, Operations Director, Freedom Brands, with the company’s successful coconut water drink
It’s the taste of Freedom F
»New coconut water drink is toast of Glasgow Business Awards
reedom Brands, a new healthy drinks business, enjoyed the taste of success at Te Glasgow
Business Awards 2014 when it triumphed in the Best Performing Business (1-10 employees) category. Te company, run by Tracey
Hogarth and Ross Currie, has introduced Go Coco, a new coconut water drink, to the market. Freedom Brands is an
innovative and healthy addition to the community of food and drink businesses in Glasgow. Te judges were impressed by the drive and commitment of the directors and what they have already achieved. Tracey Hogarth said: “We are
two entrepreneurs with a passion for healthy food and drink who wanted to share our brand with the world.” Within just 18 months,
Freedom Brands had its Go Coco drink listed in Waitrose and Tesco in the UK as well as thousands of independent retailers across the UK. It has already established an
international footprint with outlets in 22 countries. Go Coco is being sold in five major retailers in Scandinavia and in the Middle East. It also has taken its first steps into the Far East with trading contracts in China and Hong Kong having begun in September 2014. Tese are notable achievements
for the limited company, which was formed in December 2010 and started trading in September 2011. Coconut water is the clear fluid
found in young coconuts, a liquid that has long been used by people in palm-producing countries both for nutritional and medical use. Te water that Freedom Brands uses is sourced from young, green
coconuts that have been grown in line with Fair Trade agreements that benefit the local economy. Te company sources its
coconuts from a small plantation in Tailand. Tis means that Freedom
Brands can boast that Go Coco water is 100 per cent natural, has zero fat, zero cholesterol and no added sugar. Freedom Brands is the only UK
brand to package its product in resealable plastic botles, which makes it handy for those wanting to take the drink while walking, running, cycling or playing sports. It is this combination of being
ethical, practical and user friendly which impressed the judges as much as those who stock the drink and which meant the company was the winner in the Best Performing Business (1-10 employees) category, which is sponsored by
Glasgow City Council in partnership with Jobs & Business Glasgow. Freedom Brands has already
created four jobs in Glasgow with a plan to create another three this year. Te directors are well advanced on work to boost their operations in the UK threefold and to double their exports over the next year. Te judges were impressed by
the company’s plans for strategic brand marketing and awareness plans targeted at the consumers they are trying to reach. Tis programme of activity includes Freedom Brands having a presence at 16 exhibitions aimed at targeting between 55,000 and 85,000 during each of the three-day events. Te company will also be using
Twiter, Facebook and other social media platforms to further promote and develop the brand.
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