Ocado introduces a new online section, ‘Buy Women Built’.
- Over 1,000 products by female entrepreneurs are now available.
- The initiative is led by Coffee Republic founder Sahar Hashemi.
- Ocado features 130 women-created brands, including start-ups and well-known brands.
- Aims to champion female entrepreneurship in the UK, addressing confidence issues.
Ocado has unveiled an innovative online platform called ‘Buy Women Built’, showcasing more than 1,000 products crafted by female entrepreneurs. This platform has been integrated across Ocado’s app, website, and an ‘Inspire Me’ section, making it easily accessible for customers.
The initiative spearheaded by Sahar Hashemi, the founder of Coffee Republic, is designed to increase visibility and sales for businesses established by women. Hashemi successfully persuaded Ocado to support this noble cause, which seeks to enhance the economic footprint of female-founded enterprises.
Within this section, Ocado has curated a diverse collection of 130 brands developed by women. This assortment includes popular names like Little Moons ice cream and Pip & Nut peanut butter, alongside emerging start-ups such as All Dressed Up sauces. This careful curation ensures a mix of established and novel products for consumers to explore.
In a recent interview, Ocado Retail’s chief executive, Hannah Gibson, emphasised the importance of this endeavour, stating ‘There are far fewer women entrepreneurs out there and we want to support that community.’ This highlights Ocado’s commitment to fostering an inclusive business environment.
Sahar Hashemi commented on the broader implications of the initiative: ‘This isn’t patronising — it’s signposting. Female entrepreneurship rates in the UK are 30% behind other developed countries. Confidence is a huge issue — women don’t feel they’ve got what it takes. Showing people that so many brands are in fact created by women leads more female entrepreneurs to think, “We can do this.” It’s a way to make future generations see the power of women.’ Her statement underlines the critical role of confidence in entrepreneurial success and aims to inspire future generations of women.
Ocado’s ‘Buy Women Built’ initiative is set to empower female entrepreneurs and reshape consumer perspectives.
