Ian is an entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Skinny Drinks Group.
Aged just 18, he set up his first business, as a self-taught photographer. After a hugely successful 2 years, reaching a turnover of £1.5m, Ian was ready to start his next venture and went on to establish his own property development firm. Fast forward a few years, Ian found himself running all North-West franchises of Britain’s favourite pizza chain, contributing to the company’s major expansion in the UK.
By then, this self-made man had mastered many disciplines, from sales to marketing and kitchen management.
But at a more personal level, Ian was faced with a problem. He’d been diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes and, as a big G&T fan, this meant that even low sugar tonics could spike his blood sugar. Faced with sugar crashes or quiet nights in, Ian set about addressing the need for a zero sugar, zero calorie and 100% natural mixer that didn’t compromise on taste. A few months later, Skinny Tonic – SDG’s flagship mixer brand – was born.
Today, SDG is on its way to becoming a brand powerhouse and one of the fastest growing and most agile drink manufacturers in Europe.