‘RawQ: What Real Energy Tastes Like’
My journey began with a close friend, Daria, the wife of renowned tennis player Daniil Medvedev. Like many athletes, Daniil relied heavily on energy bars for a quick and convenient energy boost. But the problem was, he (and many others!) couldn’t find a bar that truly delivered sustained energy without the dreaded sugar crash.
Existing options were either high in sugary culprits like dates or agave nectar, or loaded with artificial ingredients and lacking in true health benefits.
It wasn’t enough to just create another bar. We craved a revolution.
We needed an energy source that mirrored the unwavering focus of a champion, not a fleeting sugar rush. This is where buckwheat entered the scene. This ancient grain, packed with complete protein and blood-sugar stabilising power, became our hero ingredient.
The journey wasn’t easy. Finding a manufacturer who believed in our unconventional approach was like playing a never-ending match. We faced rejection after rejection, but our determination never wavered. After 87 “no’s” and 11 failed attempts, we finally found a partner who shared our vision.
The offline world proved to be another battlefield. Building relationships with retailers wasn’t a quick serve. But with grit and persistence, we rallied a team of passionate partners, from distributors to brokers. This journey wasn’t just about building a brand, it was about creating a movement.
Now, imagine a world where healthy snacking fuels your greatest adventures. That’s the RawQ vision. We’re on a mission to conquer the healthy snacking market, one delicious, buckwheat-powered bar at a time.
Prior to creating our RawQ bars I tried so many to find one I might actually enjoy. But it was impossible! Creating my own felt like the only option. As I developed a variety of flavours I was keen to see if others would like them too. The feedback has been phenomenal with many agreeing they wouldn’t choose any other brand over ours. Whilst doing my research and making my product the best it could be for mass production I couldn’t help but pay attention to the little details.
When I saw energy bars for as little as £1 it was obvious the ingredients meant they were not a healthy, good quality product. This meant all the ingredients being used for our bars were the best they could possibly be – if I wasn’t willing to eat it, how could I expect anyone else to?
Let’s go back to tennis – from the age of 6 tennis was my sport. Hence meeting my business partner Daria. Being a perfectionist and over achiever, I had always wanted to own and run a business of my own. I wanted a life where I could take long Friday lunches, get all my work done in the morning when I am at my most productive. Naturally creating a product I felt we needed, bringing it to not only the UK but globally too seemed like a dream. But now it’s my reality.
If you don’t work for your dream to come true, you will be working for someone else’s dream to come true instead.
Something I do tend to get a little jealous of is our products travelling to countries I’ve never been to – my business naturally leads to a bit of travelling but as it’s only been a year I am conscious that keeping outgoings and spending to a minimum is a must.
Our next challenge? Bringing RawQ to major retailers like Whole Foods and Planet Organic. This will amplify our reach and establish RawQ as the go-to for sustained energy.
But this is just the first set. We’re constantly innovating, developing new buckwheat-based products, and striving to become the undisputed champion of healthy snacking.
Inspired? Join the RawQ movement! Visit our website (https://rawqfoods.com/) or follow us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/rawqfood/) to learn more about the science behind our energy bars and our journey to redefine healthy fuel.
Remember, the road to success is paved with perseverance. For all the aspiring innovators out there, surround yourself with a team that shares your passion and never give up on your vision.
Together, we can create something truly remarkable.
