James Averdieck


James Averdieck is a British entrepreneur, the founder of the dessert manufacturer and the Coconut Collaborative.

Early life

Averdieck was born in November 1965. His father was the owner of a textile business. His grandfather also had his own business. He has a twin brother Ed, managing director of Nokia Music and an older brother Will, who is an inventor.
He was educated at Uppingham School, and received a bachelor's degree in economics from Durham University in 1988.

Career

Averdieck worked for the food companies Safeway and St Ivel for ten years. He founded Gü in 2003, and in 2010 sold it to Noble Foods for £32.5 million.
In 2014, he bought a majority stake in Bessant and Drury, a small dairy-free ice cream company, which he rebranded as the Coconut Collaborative. The company produces ice cream and other desserts using coconut milk or almond milk instead of dairy. Its products are produced and sold in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, New Zealand and the United States.

Personal life

As of 2010, Averdieck is married to Annie Averdieck, with whom he has two children, and is living in South-West London.