This Way Forward: 'Do it afraid' with Tesh from Raglan Food Co.
04.05.2024Part two of our B Corp In Conversation series and you can't help but feel the good vibes from Raglan Food Co's Co-Founder and Head of Impact, Tesh.
Raglan Food Co have been producing the best tasting coconut yoghurt for 10 years, and have since grown their delicious product range to include a wide range of coconut yoghurt flavours, and a line of Keffir smoothies.
Being the only B Corp certified and Climate Positive Certified yoghurt in New Zealand, we knew we had to include Raglan Food Co in this series.
1. How and why was Raglan Food Co born?
It was born out of a desire to shift away from animal-based products for both health and environmental reasons, and the lack at the time (nearly 10 years ago) of any delicious alternative options.
2. What makes Raglan Food Co different from other yoghurt and kefir products in the market?
We are the most ethically produced, and the best-tasting - which we think is a winning combo! We're the only B Corp and Climate Positive Certified yoghurt on the NZ market, plus paying a fair wage to our team.
3. What does being B Corp Certified mean to you?
It's about doing the best we can across all the areas of our business, and lifting our game every audit. It gives us aspirational targets to work towards.
4. The range of projects and initiatives you've undertaken to make a positive impact on the earth, people and the ocean is truly commendable. Was integrating such a program into the Raglan Food Co brand always a core vision for you from the very beginning?
Yes - we're earth & ocean-loving hippies at heart, that's a big part of the reason we ended up living in Raglan in the first place, so there's always been a desire to give back and do the right thing - we like the concept of using business as a tool for good and have seen that it can actually work and make a real difference over time.
5. Where do you see Raglan Food Co in the next 5 years?
All over the world! We've just launched in the US at the end of last year, so we'd like to see it available all over the United States, and possibly in Europe too.
6. Proudest business achievement in the last 12 months?
Probably the US launch, which took a lot of work and effort. But also very proud of our brand refresh which happened in the last 12 months, we feel like we're really popping on the shelves!
7. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Do it afraid.
8. If someone was a tourist in your home town, where is the one place you’d tell them to visit?
Well, the beach is the obvious one here, it would be pretty sad to leave Raglan without admiring its world-class waves! So I'd send visitors up to the lookout point over the surf beach with a yummy picnic for sunset.
9. What's your go-to song to elevate your mood?
I really love Sammy Rae & The Friends, all her music is quite jazzy and upbeat and funky, it's my go-to for when I'm cleaning the house.
10. What’s your go-to beverage?
Planta Mate - sparkling yerba mate tea in a can, it's refreshing and gives you an energy boost without any jitters.
11. Running a business is a constant juggling act, what does managing wellbeing look like to you?
Prioritising quality time with my husband and friends even when things are madly busy - you need to recoup and get your energy back before tackling the next challenge.
Want to know more about Raglan Food Co?
You can check out their website here: https://raglanfoodco.com/
Check out their podcast: The Vibe Lifter here: https://raglanfoodco.com/vibe-lifter-podcast/
You can find their amazing products in Woolworths, New World and Pak n Save across New Zealand and in other worldwide retailers.
