How two sisters created a gluten free 700K snacks business with just a nutribullet and a blog

Two sisters have revealed how their enterprise thought began with making wholesome gluten free snacks for one another utilizing a NutriBullet, to offering over 80,000 of the snacks to retailers akin to Holland and Barrett.

Sisters Sophie, 33, and Gracie Tyrrell, 31, from London, began up Squirrel Sisters, a wholesome snacks enterprise, in November 2015 after sharing the recipies on their weblog.

Running a blog about their favorite wholesome snacks from 2013, after they lived internationally from every, individuals quickly began to take word.

One recipe they shared, which was notably in style, was a gluten free snack that they used a NutriBullet to create with dates, currants, cacao butter and powder.

Nevertheless it was when Sophie returned from working as a enterprise growth director in a Singapore-based company in 2015, that they determined to make their pastime right into a enterprise – which now turns over round £700,000 a 12 months.

Sisters Sophie (rigt) 33, and Gracie Tyrrell (left) 31, from London began up Squirrel Sisters in November 2015 after sharing the recepies on their weblog

One recipe that they each cherished and likewise their followers have been gluten free snacks, pictured the sisters with their snacks immediately 

Speaking about their wholesome meals weblog, Gracie, a professionally skilled actress, revealed: ‘A number of years after college Sophie moved to Singapore and I used to be in London, so we determined to start out a weblog as a enjoyable factor to do collectively whereas residing on reverse sides of the world.

‘Our weblog was a spot for us to doc our wholesome and scrumptious discoveries and recipes. We named our weblog Squirrel Sisters – a nickname from our childhood based mostly on our surname ‘Tyrrell’ and we additionally each love nuts!’

Gracie mentioned: ‘Our weblog gained a following shortly. Folks linked with our mission and the truth that we’re two regular ladies with a busy life-style that wish to take pleasure in life whereas feeling nice.

One recipe that they each cherished and likewise their followers have been gluten free snacks, with Gracie explaining: ‘I used to make them for Sophie as a result of she has a gluten-intolerant and on the time there wasn’t actually something out there that was gluten-free, refined sugar-free and scrumptious.’

Gracie exhibiting off their snacks – Squirrel Sisters within the store  – which they launched from their weblog

‘Something gluten-free that did style good tended to be filled with sugar and components. So I made the bars for Sophie (and myself) utilizing a NutriBullet, so she may take pleasure in a scrumptious snack that tasted like an indulgent deal with with the bonus of well being advantages.’ 

However quickly they needed to go from utilizing a NutriBullet in their very own kitchens to one thing larger. Sophie mentioned: ‘We wished to discover a manufacturing unit that was keen to take an opportunity on a small and non-existent model and shared our values – fortunately we discovered a implausible family-owned and run producer – we couldn’t have accomplished it with out them.’

Different hurdles have been getting patrons at excessive avenue retailers to take them severely: ‘Being naive helped – we simply tried each avenue we may consider – calling, emailing, Linkedin and ultimately social media.’

Launching in Entire Meals and Planet Natural initially additionally they bought them by way of their web site too. Whereas working with subscription packing containers, like Lifebox, additionally helped to get their title on the market. 

Waitrose have now doubled their our retailer listings and Holland & Barrett have launched their merchandise in 600 shops

The wholesome snack is available in share baggage and likewise bars – with flavours akin to Cocao brownie 

Gracie mentioned: ‘Neither of us had any expertise on this trade so firstly it was all about studying as a lot as attainable; –  Google was our greatest pal. We networked as a lot as attainable and requested numerous questions!

‘The primary hurdle we had was discovering a manufacturing unit that would replicate what we have been making at dwelling on a bigger scale; It’s not as straightforward as handing over a recipe and asking them to make it on a much bigger scale. 

‘Scaling up adjustments all the pieces, the style, texture and many others. It took about six months of trials with numerous factories earlier than we discovered the one that would do it and we now have been working with them ever since. They’re superb and we now have such an excellent relationship with them.’

Gracie admits that something gluten-free in 2015  did not style good and tended to be filled with sugar and components

The sisters reveal that it took about six months of trials with numerous factories earlier than they discovered the one that would do it and so they have been working with them ever since

Gracie believes that conserving it within the household works for them each: ‘We’re each so comparable in how we expect and our imaginative and prescient however we’re additionally so totally different with our abilities, which is nice for enterprise as a result of we praise one another. 

‘We get to convey our ardour to life and do it collectively, which has been an unbelievable expertise –  supporting one another by means of the ups and downs and being there for one another by means of extra traumatic occasions. 

Sophie, one half of the Squirrel sisters, who’ve created quite a few totally different flavour for the snack, agreed saying: ‘There are some actual challenges that include having your personal enterprise, so doing it with somebody who cheers you on and helps you makes the world of distinction.’

Sophie (pictured) mentioned that they’ve some actually thrilling concepts about new flavours, codecs and even classes

The sisters self-funded the enterprise and simply used financial savings or pals for assist: ‘We have been fortunate as a result of Sophie’s husband is a designer so he was in a position to create our model and packaging design, which is normally the explanation start-ups want funding early on. We additionally labored from dwelling for the primary 12 months to maintain prices as little as attainable,’ Gracie mentioned.

And the ladies have not needed to give away any of their enterprise both: ‘We’re nonetheless 100 per cent shareholders (50 per cent every) however we’re at a stage now the place we’d like funding to develop our enterprise to the following degree. 

‘We have now so many superb issues taking place this 12 months from Waitrose doubling our retailer listings to Holland & Barrett who’ve launched our merchandise in 600 shops.’ 

‘We have now some actually thrilling concepts about new flavours, codecs and even classes, however till we now have proved our core vary in additional retailers we try to remain focussed,’ Sophie added.