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A local business offering calming drinks made of Jersey milk has been selected to join a business accelerator programme by Canadian Dairy Cooperative Agropur.
Agropur launched Inno Accel, the largest open innovation initiative in the North American dairy industry, in 2018.
Sleep Well - whose products are branded a natural alternative to medicinal calming drinks and are made of Jersey milk, honey and valerian - is one of four dairy-related start-ups from Canada, the US and the UK to join the programme, following an international Inno Accel call for applications.
The selected businesses will spend 12 weeks in Inno Accel, learning about how to maximise their chances of success in North America.
The Sleep Well team will be supported by two mentors - a successful entrepreneur and a member of Agropur senior management - and at least 20 coaches with different areas of expertise, from marketing and sales to R&D and strategy.
Each selected business will also receive several months of support, worth $25,000 CAD, as well as $20,000 CAD cash to contribute to travel and living expenses.
"Agropur is North America's biggest dairy co-operative and this is a huge opportunity for our brand and our product," Sleep Well founder Sam Watts said.
"Canada's dairy industry is renowned for its creativity and innovation and to be selected from so many strong contenders for a place on the programme is an immense achievement for the business and the team.
"North America has always been high on our target list and this has the potential to accelerate our growth in one of the world's biggest consumer markets. Above all, we are going to benefit from three months of intensive product and business development coaching and the expertise of a highly professional and experienced company, creating undreamed of opportunities."
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