UK – Rebel Kitchen, one of the leading plant-based food and drink producers in the UK will be merging with Nurture Brands to create as the company’s seek to create UK’s leading plant based business.

Rebel Kitchen will be joining Ape Snacks,which produces rice based puffs and coconut snacks, and Emily Crisps as part of Nurture’s portfolio of brands from January 2020.

Nurture Bands was formed earlier this year when Rebel Mylk acquired the London-based Ape Sanck and the fruit and vegetable chips start-up Emily Crisps and later merged the businesses.

Commenting on this new move, Ben Arbib, founder of both Rebel and Nurture, said that bringing the two separate businesses that shared a common desire to create healthier plant-based food and drink under one roof was a concrete move.

“In becoming one business, we are able to accelerate the growth of our brands while still delivering great-tasting products made with whole, plant-based ingredients, under an ethical business model,” ​he added.

Nurture Brands managing director Adam Draper said the business was poised for strong growth, based on its focus on “macro category trends​” in the food and drink market.

“We know that our brands resonate with consumers and we have a fantastic team who are passionate about driving our brands and the category forward in the UK and beyond,”​ Draper explained.

Following the merger, Draper will remain as managing director of Nurture Brands, with Arbib continuing as owner while the business will continue to be based in central London. 

Founded in 2014, Rebel Kitchen produces organic plant-based dairy alternatives that are available in Waitrose and Whole Foods Market stores nationwide.

The products are also available through online retailer Ocado – including plant-based milks, coconut water and a range of single-serve ‘Mylk Shakes’.

As one of the leading plant-based food and drink producers in the UK, Rebel Kitchen recently announced that it is now officially a carbon neutral company, as certified by Carbon Analytics.

In just 6 months, Rebel Kitchen has offset their entire business-wide carbon footprint for 2018-19 to become recognised as a carbon neutral organisation.

Rebel Kitchen’s carbon footprint for 2018 – 2019 was 4,041.82, with a reduction in carbon intensity of 14% from the previous year while its carbon intensity has also been consistently lower than the industry average; approximately 35% lower than the Food and Beverage sector as a whole over the last 4 years.