THE co-founders of a Chester-based gut health business have been included among the most ambitious business leaders in the UK.

Jon Walsh and Dr Megan Rossi, creators of Bio&Me - which produces a range of granola, porridge, muesli and live yoghurts designed to promote a healthy gut - have been included in the LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders for 2023.

Created by trusted investment partner LDC - part of Lloyds Banking Group, and supported by The Times, The LDC Top 50 champions the business leaders who are pushing for growth and building successful medium-sized businesses.

Competition was fierce among this year's nominees. The LDC Top 50 showcases individuals who are growing their businesses at home and overseas, making a positive contribution to society and driving progress against their sustainability goals. They hail from every corner of the UK and span every sector of the economy. Together, they employ more than 6,700 people and turn over more than £1.2bn.

Chester and District Standard: Bio&Me has a range of products designed to promote gut health.Bio&Me has a range of products designed to promote gut health. (Image: Bio&Me)

Co-founders, Jon Walsh and Dr Megan Rossi, also known as The Gut Health Doctor, joined forces in 2019, and the Chester-based business enjoyed significant growth from the get-go. Based on Dr Megan’s scientific research, the business believes that people and microbes thrive on variety and deliciously good food. Its products are now stocked in major retailers nationwide including Asda, Boots, Holland & Barrett, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose.

The B Corp certified business employs 12 staff and counts England captain Harry Kane as an investor. Now the UK’s leading gut health food brand, with an expected £10 million retail sales in 2023, the brand’s meteoric rise shows how gut health is fast becoming a new lifestyle approach.

Jon Walsh, Co-Founder and CEO at Bio&Me, said: "We are absolutely delighted to have made it into the Top 50 Most Ambitious Leaders. What an accolade! The demand for credible good for you gut health products continues to grow as more consumers discover the benefits of good gut health. Bio&Me has had amazing support from retailer buyers across the board, as well as from a number of key investors, and we are incredibly grateful to them all for helping get the business to where it is today."

Dr Megan Rossi, Co-Founder at Bio&Me, commented: "As a dietitian and a scientist I’m passionate about educating consumers on the importance of looking after their gut health. I was inspired to start Bio&Me to help people discover that they don’t have to sacrifice on taste to look after their gut health: it can be deliciously easy. This is what Bio&Me is all about. To have scooped this award is testament to the incredible hard work of the amazing team that works alongside myself and Jon."

John Garner, Managing Partner at LDC, added: "We started The LDC Top 50 six years ago to champion the remarkable success stories of medium-sized businesses, the unsung heroes of the British economy. Since then, we’ve received more than 3,000 nominations and celebrated more than 500 business leaders through the programme, surpassing all our expectations. Every leader in this year’s cohort has a story as impressive as the next, and I’d like to congratulate them on their achievements so far. We can’t wait to see where they go from here!"

You can find out more about the LDC Top 50 programme, via this link.