Beyond the Brand is a series of slow conversations with incredible people building things that matter. We talk about the quiet parts of the process—the shifts, the pauses, the choices that don’t always make it to Instagram. These are stories of shaping a life and a livelihood with care.
This month we’re excited to share our conversation with Megan, a dear friend and co-founder of Holos Kombucha, an award-winning organic kombucha company that offer paid work placements to survivors of exploitation and trauma.
What inspired you to start your brand?
From the age of 19, I volunteered in Soho’s red light district, knocking on brothel doors, building relationships with the women working there, and offering them support to leave the industry. What we were able to offer at the time wasn’t enough, often training but not paid employment.
In 2015 I went to Cambodia on a trip that led me into rescue and rehabilitation work, where I met Naomi, my co founder at Holos, and Maya, a woman selling sex to provide for her five children.
As we got to know Maya, we realised she was surviving rather than choosing this life, but she had a dream to paint nails. Naomi connected her with our hotel so she could leave the streets and instead be paid to do something she loved.
Over time, with support from a local charity, I was able to move Maya into a new home, stable employment, and for the first time her children went to school. We saw the life changing power of dignified work!
That experience planted the seed for a business built around creating employment opportunities for women like her.
Around the same time, I became unwell in Cambodia and a friend introduced me to kombucha, which wasn’t yet widely available in the UK. I noticed a real improvement in my health, and I knew there was something powerful in it.
Bringing those two things together, the mission and the product, felt like something really special and was part of the inspiration behind Holos.
How has your brand evolved since its launch?
Wow! It’s been quite a journey. I still remember the first £100 Naomi, and I put into the business, sitting in a London coffee shop, dreaming it all up, what it could look like and what we would need.
I remember making my first batch of kombucha when all the different bits arrived at my door. We moved house, had exploding bottles, dodgy batches, even rats at one point, and slowly built from there to where we are now.
We moved out of London, began brewing in West Sussex, and have since had many ups and downs, but we recently launched in Waitrose stores nationwide last September, which felt like a dream come true and a huge business moment!
What does slow business mean to you and how do you integrate it into your work?
I think It means many things, but intentional, prayerful, and considered are words that spring to mind.
I never felt like the world needed just another business for the sake of it. Ours is different because the problem and the solution came first and the business came after. I didn’t want a business that cost the earth but to play a positive part in making it better! Because of this, so many of our actions are driven by the question: who and how does this impact? This slows us down immensely and hasn’t been easy but it’s at our core!
Are there any specific tools, rituals, or daily habits that help you stay true to your business values?
I couldn’t have done this without faith! Prayer is central to what I do. Business is hard, and there are definitely months where the lows outweigh the highs. I try to live by this verse in Philippians: ‘Fix your thoughts on what is true, honourable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable.’ That’s why we’re doing this, not for big platforms or money, but for something that lasts, making an impact on people’s lives.
How do you ensure your business stays aligned with your values?
Being co-founders is a huge part of how we stay aligned. We constantly hold each other accountable and remind each other what really matters. Business can pull you in so many directions, and it’s easy to slowly compromise without realising it, so we try to be very intentional in how we make decisions. We don’t rush things, and we regularly pause to ask whether what we’re doing still aligns with the values and ‘why’ we started with. Being a team of four really helps that true core!
How do you connect with your customers in a meaningful way?
I love that we’re still able to keep things personal, and I never want to lose that as we grow. Whether it’s hand-delivering a local box, calling customers to thank them and hear their feedback, or simply wanting them to feel a million dollars when they receive something from us, we love connecting! Our customers are the reason we have a business, but also the reason we’re able to make an impact, so we want them to know how valued they are!
What role does community play in your approach to business?
Community is a huge part of our business. We never wanted Holos to feel transactional, we want people to know there are real people and real heart behind the brand, even through things like our silly dancing videos and our ‘brew lives’ and the events we donate our product to for people to enjoy! We started as a group of friends, and ultimately, we want people to feel at home with us! One of our placements once said, ‘Holos felt very warm, like family,’ and that’s exactly what we hope to create!
How do you define success beyond profit?
Success, for me, is found in the stories of lives we’ve had the privilege to impact along the way. The moments where someone’s path shifted, where confidence grew, where employability felt more in reach. And alongside that, there’s real pride in knowing we’re creating a great-tasting organic unpasteurised kombucha that genuinely supports people’s health!
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in growing a business at your own pace?
Growing a business at our own pace comes with its own set of challenges, especially because it goes against the grain of what you often see around us. Much of what’s celebrated in business culture is speed and scale, so choosing a different rhythm can sometimes feel countercultural.
One of the biggest lessons has been learning not to get pulled off course by the noise. Staying rooted in our “why” and trusting the path we’ve chosen. There are, and will be continual pressures to do things faster or cheaper, but we’ve made a conscious decision to prioritise doing things properly, even when that’s harder.
Ethical choices often come with higher costs, whether that’s sourcing the best ingredients or choosing materials like organic cotton for something as simple as a tote bag. But for us, “best” means best for everyone involved.
As well as that, we’re four founders, two married couples with six children between us (wow). We love our families and being present for them matters SO much. Newborns and maternity has naturally shaped the pace we have moved at and has meant things have been slower as Naomi and I have been out for large portions over the years.
And having a social mission at the heart of what we do naturally brings added complexity. We feel deeply honoured to be part of each placement’s journey. It’s incredibly meaningful work, but it asks for care, patience, and a willingness to go slow.
If you could go back and change one thing about how you started your business, what would it be?
Ah, I don’t know, we’ve done the best with what we’ve had. It’s been hard. It still is hard. But it’s right. I personally went it to it very naively- suggesting in our first meeting how we needed a van with decals on the side asap. The truth is I probably wouldn’t have said yes to it had I known what was ahead! We started the business with mission at the forefront so I don’t think I’d change anything!
What exciting projects or launches can we expect from your brand soon?
Something exciting’s coming back from autumn and winter. We are relaunching a product to create more impact, hopefully later this year and some more new things next spring! Watch this space!
Where do you see your brand in five years?
We hope to see the brand continue to grow and create an even deeper, wider impact. That means more meaningful work placements, but also unlocking greater depth within those placements. We’d love to create a real sense of belonging and a connection to our beautiful surroundings here in West Sussex which is so conducive to healing. We’d love to start an entrepreneur school, for people to be able to dream and achieve their own goals!
My dream is for Holos to become the go-to kombucha brand, known not only for how it tastes, but for how positively it supports your body and the lives of others behind it. I’d love for us to have more opportunities to share our work with people and businesses in a meaningful way.
And, I want us to be easily accessible, available in all my favourite places, from local spots I love to supermarkets like Sainsbury’s, co-op, and restaurants across the country, especially as kombucha continues to move more into the non alcoholic space for people to enjoy!
What’s one small change every business could make to be more mindful and responsible?
We have a real heart to see businesses make a positive impact. It’s not always easy, but it is possible. I have a dream of more companies opening their doors to employ those who need an opportunity most.
I think a key starting point is simply awareness! Being willing to see need. Not just continuing to do things the way they’ve always been done, but challenging that and asking if there’s a better way!
What advice would you give to someone looking to start a conscious business?
You will never feel like you’re doing enough. But own what you can do and what is within your reach. It may be different to someone else but that’s okay.
Where do you see the future of conscious business heading, and how do you hope to contribute?
I think back to when I started an ethical blog when I first gave birth to Heppy. I began sharing where people could source more ethical clothing from at a time when I could probably count the brands on one hand. That is changing. I see ethical clothing becoming the norm rather than the exception with people wanting far higher standards, better transparency and less performative impact or purpose washing and instead a genuine commitment to meaningful change.
A big part of that shift I believe, is being driven by community people sharing knowledge, asking better questions and holding brands to a higher standard than before.
And I hope we can contribute by continuing to show that it is possible to build something commercially successful without compromising on who we are! I hope to raise the bar on what’s possible, especially in extending businesses out to create a social impact. It is not always easy and we have made mistakes along the way but it’s so needed!
What is your connection with Rebrandr?
I met the wonderful Abi through Instagram, we connected because we were both homeschooling and I have since come to be entwined with her beautiful family and love and admire all the wonderful things Rebrandr put their hand to!
Head over to Holos Kombucha to learn more about Megan, Naomi & the whole team's inspiring approach to mindful business and browse their brewed-for-good range of delicious kombucha.