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12. Reggae Reggae Sauce 12 of 100   Previous entry   Next entry
Founder Levi Roots
Website www.reggae-reggae.co.uk
Why it made our list
Jamaican-born Levi’s fortunes have gone stellar since appearing on Dragons’ Den in 2007. Fluffing his figures during the pitch wasn’t enough to put off investor Peter Jones who has helped transform the former MOBO Awards nominee’s range of sauces into a brand juggernaut. Sales in Sainsbury’s gave the leading ketchup brand a run for its money last year, Jones claims, and licensing deals have since been done with high street food outlets such as sandwich chain Subway and pub company JD Weatherspoon. Levi remains the most famous entrepreneur to have ever pitched to the Dragons and is now a regular face on the business speaker circuit in addition to the reggae music scene.
How do our winners measure up? Reason for starting - realise an idea 80%, make money 13%, be own boss 5%, better work life balance 2%. The eureka moment remains the biggest motivating factor for starting a business