Chester gut health business, Bio&Me has made the UK’s longest running index of disruptive new start-ups list for the second year running.
The company has ranked the top FMCG food brand and came 18th out of 100 start-up companies, in the list compiled by Startups.co.uk.
The Startups 100 offers a showcase of new businesses that demonstrate innovation, solid financials, opportunity in their market, a great concept, and a strong customer base or following. The list previously identified brands including Monzo, Deliveroo and HelloFresh.
Bio&Me’s gut-loving range now spans granolas, porridges, mueslis, and flapjack oat bars, as well as kefir yoghurts and drinks.
Co-founders, Jon Walsh and Dr Megan Rossi BSc, PhD RD, also known as The Gut Health Doctor, joined forces in 2019, on a mission to make good gut health deliciously easy. The Chester-based business has enjoyed significant growth from the get-go.
The brand’s proposition of great-tasting, science-backed products continues to strike a chord with consumers, and the Bio&Me range is now sold in over 38,000 outlets, stocked in major retailers nationwide including the likes of Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose.
Bio&Me’s swift rise in popularity highlights how gut health has evolved from a trend to an essential part of daily health routines. The business hit £14 million retail sales in 2024, delivering over 26.5 million portions of gut-loving goodness to customers up and down the country.
Jon said: “What a great way to kick off 2025; we are absolutely delighted to have made it into the Startups 100 for yet another year. The demand for credible ‘good for your’ gut health products shows no sign of abating as more consumers reap the benefits of good gut health. And I’m beyond delighted to share that January 2025 has yet again surpassed all expectations, with sales for the month on track for double what they were last year.”
Megan added: “As a dietitian and a scientist I’m passionate about educating consumers on the importance of looking after their gut health. I was inspired to start Bio&Me to help people discover that they don’t have to sacrifice on taste to look after their gut health. 2024 was our most successful year to date, and we couldn’t have achieved it without the support from our fantastic team, retail partners, and our Bio&Me customers.”
Editor of Startups.co.uk, Zohra Huda, said: “Amidst the gloom-and-doom headlines, our annual Startups 100 Index provides a much-needed jolt of optimism. These 100 companies, a diverse list of innovators from every sector and region, show that the grit and ingenuity of entrepreneurship is still very much alive. Despite the challenges, the UK is still a fertile ground for disruption and world-leading technologies, and these companies will be leading the charge to recovery and growth in 2025.”
