Log in
Holos began with Maya. In 2015, Naomi and I met for the first time as part of a voluntary trip to the dusty streets of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, supporting those trapped in exploitation and selling sex. Through discovering Maya’s dreams at that first meeting, and her passion for painting nails, Naomi and I chipped in to buy her a nail kit and connected her with a nearby hotel where she could begin painting nails and make that dream a reality. Over the next few weeks and months, we saw the power of supportive, accessible employment opportunities in helping her rebuild her life and allowing hope to take root.
Whilst I stayed in Cambodia to continue supporting safe houses and creating practical paths out of exploitation, Naomi returned to the UK and left her corporate career to lead the anti-slavery charity Sophie Hayes Foundation, building a pioneering employability programme that has since supported more than 1,000 survivors of modern slavery here in the UK.
When I returned to the UK in 2016, Naomi and I met in a crowded Starbucks in London, with notebooks and pens in hand, no business experience, but a burning desire to make a change - this time by breaking the cycle of exploitation through supportive work opportunities. It was discovering our mutual love for kombucha and its gut-healing, powerfully unique properties that led us to create Holos- a name meaning complete wholeness.
Kombucha was relatively new to the UK at the time we started our business, and we knew it was predicted to grow. We also knew that traditional brewing requires time, care, and patience, qualities that make space for learning, confidence-building, and supported entry into work. Plus, we could use every bottle sold to grow awareness of the hidden reality of over 122,000 people in the UK being exploited.
Ten years on, through hundreds of small batches and many lives impacted, the purpose has never changed. Today, Holos creates award-winning, organic kombucha and sparkling teas in our West Sussex brewery. Each brew is made slowly and intentionally, by hand. We offer paid work placements for survivors of exploitation and trauma, nurturing skills, and building confidence, belonging, and financial independence.
In 2024, we established The Holos Foundation to extend this impact even further, offering grants and long-term support to those rebuilding their lives, as well as creating long-term impact.
So, in every bottle of our kombucha you’ll find so much more than great taste. You’ll find passion, hope and purpose - proving that quality and purpose can go hand in hand.