With a regular stall at Woodgrange market and a new shop in Bethnal Green, Tropical Box aims to educate people about the nutritional value of exotic fruits, and to ensure that everything they do is sustainable.

By Jean Gray

Three people stand behind a stall filled with fruits — Anthony, Chris and Hayden

When engineer Anthony Obariase decided he needed to go on a detox diet, he tried to find the exotic fruits that would make the healthy regime more interesting and satisfying.

But the range on offer in local shops just didn’t hit the spot. That was the spark for a new business, Tropical Box, that is about to open its first shop.

Anthony, along with lifelong friends Hayden Fontenelle, an accountant, and Chris Edmond, an IT manager, set up Tropical Box during the Covid lockdown. Determined to maintain a healthy lifestyle they found an exotic fruit supplier in the UK, but also partnered with farmers in Nigeria and the Caribbean. They began by making personal orders, sharing pictures of the delicious fruits on WhatsApp. It wasn’t long before family and friends started placing orders and so Tropical Box was born.

The three friends who all grew up and still live in Forest Gate, have two main aims for the business – to educate people about the nutritional value of exotic fruits, and to ensure that everything they do is sustainable.

So far the business has involved a regular stall at Woodgrange market, and delivering fruit boxes to offices and individuals within the M25. Their juices and smoothies are also popular at local events around Newham.

Anthony explained: “We are committed to delivering fruit in recyclable packaging and we like to share tips with customers on how to get the most from the fruit with minimal waste. We also believe in giving back to the community so any organic waste from juices and smoothies is donated to local programmes such as the Forest Gate Community Garden.”

Hayden added: “We think it is important to teach people about the benefits from different foods, for instance antioxidants and other ingredients that can, for example, help lower blood sugar.”

Chris became interested in healthy food choices when he worked some time ago on the delicatessen counter in a supermarket. “Our long term goal is to build our own farms in the Caribbean, guided by our values of innovation, collaboration and sustainability.”

The website offers recipes and background information about individual fruits as well as the option to order online.

Their first shop has opened in Emma Street, Bethnal Green, although they are hoping for a formal launch later in the year.

www.tropicalbox.co.uk

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