From founder frustration to Pitch the Co-Packers winner: hangov’s journey

A complex beginning

Like many early-stage founders, Renata pieced together an international supply chain.

“The branding is from Brazil, the package is from Pakistan, the sachet is from China, and the product itself is manufactured in the UK. So that’s my setup now, very international but not very efficient,” she laughs. “Importantly, the product itself performs exceptionally well, with strong consumer feedback and repeat purchase behaviour.”

Much of the initial production phase was closely overseen by Renata herself.

“In the early stages, I was deeply involved in the process,” she says. “My approach has always been to build carefully, validate the product, refine the operations, and then scale with the right partners.”

As demand grew, identifying a long-term manufacturing partner capable of supporting higher-volume production became essential to the next stage of growth.

The pitch that changed everything

Her search led her to Packaging Innovations & Empack, where she connected with the team at the Association of Contract Manufacturing, Packing, Fulfilment & Logistics (BCMPA).

“I met Emma at the BCMPA stand and introduced the project. I explained that I was finding it difficult to identify the right long-term partner.”

Emma directed her to Pitch the Co-Packers, a Dragons’ Den-style competition connecting innovative start-ups with leading UK contract manufacturers.

“She said, ‘Renata, you should visit the website. Anything you need will be straightforward. You have all the accreditations there,’ which I found very helpful.”

At the time, Renata had developed her formulation with a UK chemist but hadn’t yet received full product stock.

“I’ve never considered myself a natural public speaker, and initially I wasn’t sure whether I could do it. But after reviewing the opportunity, I thought, why not?”

Weeks later, she was confirmed as one of four pioneering brands to pitch at Pitch the Co-Packers 2026.

The 2026 cohort spanned health, sport and food innovation, with presentations to a panel of industry leaders from contract manufacturing and FMCG.

“I was extremely nervous,” she admits. “Standing on stage in front of a room full of industry experts is daunting. But once I began, it flowed.”

She hadn’t expected to win.

“I assumed the others were stronger candidates, so I had no chance. When they announced my name, I was genuinely surprised. It was an incredible moment.”

For Renata, the win provided valuable validation for the business she was building. More importantly, the experience reinforced something fundamental about taking an early-stage product forward: having the right people around you matters.

“It reinforced that meaningful growth is never built alone. The right partner shares your standards, your vision and your ambition to build something enduring.”