Interview with Simon Mellin
In 2019, Simon Mellin launched The Modern Milkman as a technology platform. In some respects it closely resembled the milk round of old, even using the same bottling machines, which have seen little to no innovation in decades. But unlike its traditional counterparts The Modern Milkman also allows customers to make and amend orders easily, and pay online without having to fish for cash, while optimising routes and small-batch logistics for its self-employed drivers and bottling partners.
Interview with Freddy Ward
After a brief test period, Wild secured £500,000 in angel investor funding and launched in early 2020 with a refillable, plastic-free product. They achieved rapid growth, hitting revenues of £12.5 million the following year, and £46.9 million by the end of 2023, when it also became a certified B Corp. Total funding now stands at £7.5 million.
Interview with Charlotte Harrington
Sustainable beverage business Belu was doing well by doing good long before it was fashionable. A social enterprise launched in 2007, its purpose is to change the way the world sees water. It’s donated all of its profits since 2011 to Water Aid, in a partnership fixed until 2030.
Interview with Shaun Doak
React Group Plc isn’t your typical cleaning company. Alongside conventional services like the regular commercial cleaning of windows, facilities and facades, it looks after what you might call ‘extreme’ cases: ad-hoc specialist cleaning of crime scenes, railway fatalities and biohazards.
Rachel Heather & Tracy Egan
Over half of British women wear size 16 or above, and the figure is rising. Yet for years plus-sized fashion was largely an afterthought. “Curvier women want the same look and contemporary style as everyone else, but they’ve just felt forgotten,” says Tracy Egan, who for 20 years manufactured quality clothing for high-street retailers with business partner Rachel Heather.
How DG International plans to become a billion pound business
Consumers are demanding fast deliveries and businesses are looking for cost-effective, efficient transport options to customers worldwide. One company that provides these solutions is UK based DG International, a logistics firm that specialises in logistics and supply chain management.
How Grow Group is leading the way in the medical cannabis industry
Grow Group is a leading distributor and medical cannabis brand in the UK, specialising in cannabis-based medicines to mostly ease chronic pain or help treat conditions such as epilepsy.
How Fashion UK aims to treble its business
Fashion UK isn’t your average fashion business. Licensing is at the heart of the Leicester-based company, which makes and designs clothing featuring popular characters from the likes of brands such as Disney, Warner Bros, Netflix and Lego.
How next-day delivery ensured success for customer-focused Mattress Online
Mattress Online started in December 2003, appropriately from co-founder Steve Adams’ bedroom. Starting with just five products, it took two weeks for the company to sell its first mattress, and another two weeks to make another. Sales fortunately picked up in January – the peak month for furniture and homeware shopping – and the company has never looked back.
Online fashion retailer Sosandar aims for global growth as sales surge
It’s been a challenging couple of years for retailers, with the cost of living crisis impacting sales and increasing costs for businesses. But one company managing to weather the crisis is Sosandar, an online fashion firm targeting the over-30s.
