Nourish is challenging conventional functional snacks with a coconut-based range designed to support gut health, balanced energy and wellbeing, while expanding distribution and launching innovative products including a matcha cookie.
Nourish’s Coconut Revolution
Nourish is challenging conventional healthy snacking with coconut-based products designed to support gut and hormonal health, while expanding nationwide through major retailers and introducing an innovative matcha cookie.
Health has become the leading factor influencing Britain’s snacking habits, with 31% of consumers now prioritising wellbeing when selecting an on-the-go treat. The figure has risen steadily since the pandemic, reflecting a broader shift towards functional foods that offer more than simple convenience.
Stepping into this evolving market is Nourish, a Surrey-based brand taking a different approach to healthy snacking. Rather than focusing on protein-packed cereal bars or date-based products, the company has built its range around the often-overlooked coconut.
Described by the brand as an underappreciated “superdrupe”, coconut provides a source of healthy fats, beneficial fibre and a range of minerals including manganese, selenium, potassium and copper. Nourish positions its products as supporting digestive and hormonal health, appealing to consumers seeking alternatives to highly processed snacks and those looking to manage blood sugar fluctuations and energy crashes.
The range includes high-fibre brownies, coconut bites, macaroons and six chilled dessert bars. The company believes the future of premium snacking lies in refrigerated products, taking inspiration from trends already established in North America.
The latest addition to the portfolio is a Matcha Coconut Cookie, created in collaboration with OMGTEA. The product features AA-grade Japanese matcha and offers a novel twist on the traditional tea-and-biscuit ritual: in this case, the tea is baked directly into the biscuit.
Nourish was founded in 2015 by healthcare professional Ineke Nugteren. Originally from New Zealand, Nugteren trained as an intensive care nurse before undertaking nursing and teaching work in an African orphanage. After relocating to England, she specialised in travel medicine, respiratory health, nutrition and wellbeing. Her growing interest in functional medicine ultimately led to the creation of Nourish.
The company has built its reputation on a commitment to gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free products, with many of its offerings also certified organic. A significant proportion of the range is produced in-house, enabling the business to maintain strict control over ingredients, product development and manufacturing standards.
Based in Reigate, Nourish works with a select group of trusted UK cooperatives to source ingredients that support a range of dietary requirements often overlooked by mainstream food manufacturers.
The business also incorporates a strong social impact ethos. Through its partnership with Water for Good, 10% of net profits are donated to support access to clean water projects.
While the brand has traditionally attracted a predominantly female customer base focused on health and wellbeing, Nourish says its male audience is growing rapidly. Its products are now stocked by major retailers and distributors including Ocado, Abel & Cole, Fortnum & Mason and Amazon, as well as a premium international airline, corporate workplaces, independent delis, farm shops, coffee shops and gyms across the UK.
As demand for healthier, functional snacks continues to grow, Nourish is betting that coconut – rather than protein – could become the next major ingredient shaping the future of British snacking.
