An Edinburgh-based prebiotics business has seen a strong increase in sales with the support of Business Gateway, Scotland’s national business advisory service.
The Prebiotic Company is the brainchild of three friends, Alyssa Reid, Mohsin Laginaf and Jay Curthan, who had all experienced gut issues before turning to prebiotics.
Recognising that 91% of people don’t get enough fibre in their diets, the trio conducted extensive research and launched ió fibrewater – said to be the UK’s first prebiotic fibre-infused water – in 2022.
The trio made use of Business Gateway’s Planning To Start tool to help test out its business potential and were then connected with a dedicated business adviser, who provided one-to-one support.
It was also a Business Gateway connection that hooked Alyssa, Mohsin and Jay up with boffins at Glasgow Caledonian University to conclusively prove that ió fibrewater feeds friendly gut bacteria.
Scottish Enterprise support – again via Business Gateway – helped with international expansion plans. The trio also received digital support, including a design grant that helped improve their product design and digital presence.
Winning the 2023 World Best Drink Innovation Award was the start of the company’s national and international recognition. It has gone on to win a Scottish EDGE award and several other international awards for innovation.
In March, ió fibrewater launched in Strawberry and Lemon & Lime flavours in 33 Asda stores across Scotland, and has since seen sales surge. This success means the product is now available in close to 50 Asda stores.
It also recently launched with Parsley Box, a Scottish-based company that delivers meals to over 100,000 people across the UK, and is also available from Amazon.
Alyssa Reid said: “We knew from our own experience and our research that there is a rising trend in health-conscious consumers, particularly those interested in prebiotics and probiotics. We just needed the practical support to help us on our business journey.”
