Rimi and Manav Thapar, co-founders of Altrincham-based firm LoveRaw, have been named Ones To Watch in The LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders programme for 2022.
The programme, which is supported by The Times and now in its fifth year, celebrates those entrepreneurs that are growing the UK’s most successful and fast-growing medium-sized firms.
A record number of nominations – more than 750 – were received this year, proving that ambition is alive and well despite the challenges faced by increasing economic uncertainty.
The Ones to Watch are the business leaders destined for great things. Those who are making waves in their sectors, having a positive impact on their customers and employees, and who are the driving force behind tomorrow’s most successful medium-sized firms.
Husband and wife team Rimi and Manav founded plant-based chocolate company LoveRaw in 2013. Rimi started making vegan snacks in her Cheshire garage with a budget of £600 and now sells LoveRaw products to Waitrose, Asda, Whole Foods and other major retailers and convenience stores. The business has the support of Juliette Barratt, founder of the Grenade protein brand that sold to Mondelez for £200m in 2021.
Rimi Thapar, co-founder and CEO of LoveRaw said: “We’re on a mission to bring plant-based chocolate options into the mainstream. Since our inception back in 2013, we’ve brought a host of innovative new products to consumers. We want to disrupt the confectionery market – unlike the giant chocolate corporations, we have agility on our side, and we’ll never be complacent, which means we’ll continue to innovate and bring new products to consumers at pace.
“This accolade is testament to the work of the 18-strong team here at LoveRaw. I’m incredibly proud of how far we’re come – we’re now the fastest-growing plant-based confectionery brand and we’re determined to show that plant-based chocolate deserves a space at the head of the table. We’ll continue to innovate in the months to come and I’m excited to see where we’ll go next.”
