BEING pestered by her kids at a grocery store checkout gave a meals scientist a candy concept for a start-up.
Louise Carr-Smith, who spent 15 years within the meals manufacturing business, noticed a niche out there for sweet that gained’t rot your enamel.
Utilizing her experience, she got here up with a recipe for sugar-free lollipops that additionally include no synthetic sweeteners.
Because of her invention, the Stratford-based entrepreneur’s firm Intelligent Sweets has gained a £50,000 grant from government-backed physique Innovate UK as a part of its Ladies in Innovation scheme.
Louise plans to make use of the money to enhance her product, Lou Lou’s lollies, which include actual fruit and are available in two flavours – strawberry and watermelon.
The driving drive behind Louise’s efforts is what she describes because the “dire state of affairs” of tooth decay amongst kids.
In keeping with statistics from Public Well being England, nearly 1 / 4 (23 per cent) of five-year-olds have had dental decay.
She mentioned: “I understand how it feels to have a queue of individuals behind you and have your children nagging you for sugary lollipops on the until.
“As a father or mother, you don’t need them to have them as a result of they’re unhealthy for his or her enamel however on the similar time you are feeling trapped and simply find yourself giving in.”
She added: “I really feel strongly about the truth that kids who’re very younger are having to go below common anaesthetic to have a number of rotten enamel extracted, whereas others are shedding their grownup enamel simply as they arrive by way of.
“I actually wished to attempt to make a distinction and resolve what is a big drawback.”
The sugar-free confectionery market is already value greater than £1bn a yr and is predicted to obtain a lift after new guidelines come into drive in October.
These will ban outlets from operating promotions similar to buy-on-get-one-free on excessive fats, sugar and salt meals and drinks and cease them showcasing these things at key areas similar to checkouts, retailer entrances and aisle ends.
After graduating with a level in meals science and know-how, Louise joined meals large Unilever. There, she was a part of a crew that helped develop and produce Magnum and Solero ice lollies and Viennetta ice-cream desert.
A fellow of the Institute of Meals Science and Expertise, the 57-year-old can be a non-executive advisory board member of worldwide accreditation physique Sugarwise.
She mentioned: “I might describe myself as having a foot in each camps – I’m a scientist, however I additionally take pleasure in venture administration and I’m leveraging all that point and expertise from Unilever.”
Louise, whose kids at the moment are 19 and 17, believes the timing is ideal to launch more healthy, low-sugar treats.
She defined: “Shoppers need transparency and traceability and that significantly applies to Technology Z and Millennials, who’re dad and mom to their very own babies.”
The enterprise is increasing into the US and different abroad markets and Louise is planning to arrange her personal automated manufacturing unit within the UK to fabricate her merchandise.
Having taken on an apprentice this yr, she can be eager to create extra jobs long run.
In the meantime, she is concentrating on advertising Lou Lou’s lollies, which have a four-year shelf life, to unbiased pharmacies, well being meals outlets and comfort shops.
Retailers may also get them organized on-line by way of the Lou Lou’s Lollies web site.
Earlier than being accepted onto the Ladies in Innovation programme, Louise was additionally a part of two earlier Innovate UK tasks.
Urging different ladies to use, Louise described the mentoring a part of the prize as “phenomenal”.
She added: “The emphasis is on full authenticity and on being your self – which is nice information for girls as a result of it means we don’t have to adapt. It actually is a good time to be a lady in enterprise.”
