Challenger drinks brand Hip Pop chosen for Co-op’s Accelerator programme

Functional drinks brand Hip Pop has been selected for Co-op’s newly introduced Accelerator programme, alongside nine other purpose-led brands.

As the latest addition to the leading convenience retailer’s Apiary programme, the Accelerator programme is open to both new and existing suppliers to support their brand development, providing participants with learning opportunities including masterclasses and mentor networking, Category Buyer access and support, plus admission to Co-op’s Gift to Give programme where larger suppliers provide a helping hand to support smaller-scale businesses.

Designed to boost brand development and growth for smaller suppliers, the Apiary programme was first announced at the IGD Co-op Trade Briefing in September 2021. Later this year, it will see its third wave of suppliers hit the shelves in convenience retailer stores across the UK after coming through its Incubator programme. 

For the first time, Co-op will be operating the Accelerator alongside its Incubator with 10 innovative suppliers forming the inaugural wave of participants, including Hip Pop, Dr. Wills, Pleese Freezecakes, The Jolly Hogg and Brewgooder. 

This latest achievement for Hip Pop comes after two of the brand’s award-winning products – the Strawberry & Pineapple Kombucha and the Cherry & Blackberry CBD Kombucha – hit the shelves in Co-op stores last month.  

Co-founder of Hip Pop, Emma Thackray, said: “We are thrilled to be one of the first 10 brands in Co-op’s new Accelerator programme. As a scale-up brand, the support we will receive will be invaluable and will help us get to the next level and beyond!”

Rebecca Oliver-Mooney, Co-op Head of Commercial for Drinks, Frozen, Community Buying & the Apiary, explained: “This is an exciting development, the addition of an Accelerator scheme to our Apiary means we can work with small suppliers at different stages of their journeys. We are passionate about driving range diversity and supplier inclusivity, and we look for purpose-led suppliers who share co-operative values.

“The Incubator is for suppliers at the beginning of their retail journey, however, there are established suppliers in the retail world who tell us they would really benefit from support networks if they are to get to the next level. So, this is about embracing the entrepreneurial spirt of these challenger brands and working collaboratively in order to support and enable the acceleration of their growth, both on our shelves and across the market.”

Brewed in Manchester, Hip Pop is a “force for good” producing the tastiest functional health drinks on the planet. The brand’s gut loving range of vegan-friendly, low-sugar kombucha and living sodas are made using 100% natural ingredients and no artificial sweeteners or stevia, offering a mass-market approach to tackling gut health.

For more information, visit: https://drinkhippop.com/