The founder of Manchester-based Yumi Nutrition, Sebastien Vanderlinden, has been named Young Entrepreneur of the Year for 2020 at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards.
Now in its eighth year, the Great British Entrepreneur Awards in partnership with Starling Bank celebrate the hard work and inspiring stories of entrepreneurs in the UK.
The national award win is the latest step in Sebastien’s incredible journey which started when he lost his father to brain cancer and his family home was repossessed by the bank. Aged 20, with no money and nowhere to go, Sebastien slept on a mattress in the middle of a living room floor for a year.
Sebastien took inspiration from the strength of his father who remained positive throughout his three year battle with the disease. Before his father passed away, Sebastien made two promises to him: That he would look after his sister and that he would become a successful entrepreneur.
The 27-year-old from Manchester started and failed with two businesses before founding Yumi Nutrition in 2017, a chewable supplement business in his one bedroom apartment on the side of a full-time job. In just three years, Sebastien has grown the business into a £2 million turnover band with products stocked in major retailers in the UK and the US including Holland & Barrett, Tk Maxx and Urban Outfitters.
Sebastien’s inspirational journey to success was recognised by the Great British Entrepreneur Awards judging panel of experts which included the founders of Go Compare, Cobra Beer and Grenade as well as representatives from award sponsor Starling Bank.
Francesca James, founder of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, said: “I want to send my warmest congratulations to Sebastien. He has a wonderful and touching story, and his determination to succeed is something to truly be admired. I have no doubt that he will go on to further success in the future, and I look forward to following his journey.”
Speaking of his award win, Sebastien Vanderlinde, CEO at Yumi Nutrition, said: “I’m incredibly happy and honoured to have won this year’s national Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. It’s been an incredible journey so far, I would like to congratulate all the other candidates and say a huge thank you to the Yumi team for helping to make this possible.”
