Bangor High Street start-up business CocoVanille has been shortlisted for the Wales Start-up Awards 2021.
The 100% vegan donut, coffee and smoothie bar, was due to open on the day of the first national lockdown in March 2020, but despite the difficult start CocoVanille are now going from strength to strength.
The Wales Start-Up Awards were established in 2016 to recognise the achievements of those amazing individuals who have had a great idea, spotted the opportunity and taken the risks to launch a new product or service. Such entrepreneurs and their new ventures are the unsung heroes of the business community and the awards were launched to recognise their talents, creativity and sheer hard work.
Having received a record 750 entries, a total of 90 finalists have been selected across 27 categories covering all sectors in Wales. The awards are for firms launched in the last three years.
CocoVanille has been shortlisted for the ‘High Street Start-Up of the Year’ – with the awards due to take place on September 9th at the Depot in Cardiff.
Rachael Phoenix, the owner of CocoVanille, said: “I was due to open ‘CocoVanille’ on Bangor High street on the day of the first lockdown. We were absolutely devastated to have to postpone everything and felt uncertain that we’d ever get the chance to actually open.
“We had put in so much work transforming a very run down shop on the high street and felt so deflated to think it could be for nothing.
“However we are now up and running, in full flow and bringing a much needed excitement to Bangor high street.
“We have also been chosen as a finalist on the ‘Wales start up awards! Down to the last 5 in the ‘high street start up’ category. We couldn’t be happier.”
