Fatty's Gin and Zipcar: Your business, you vision

Organic gin: A no-compromise approach

Fatty’s Organic Spirits started out as a passion project several years ago. As a strong advocate for organic farming practices, founder Phillipa saw very few organic options available for spirits – especially gin. And she made it her mission to change that.

But, the road wasn’t necessarily an easy one: “I was told as a startup business to be completely organic was too expensive and as I'm totally self-funded and have been since day one, I was told I don't stand a chance … it was just going to cost me too much money.”

So, she had to make some tough choices, starting with selling her car. Philippa also initially worked around her day job, formulating top quality gin in her garden shed in the evenings and weekends. 

She spent months pulling around a suitcases of her gin and knocking on the doors of restaurants and bars. What was initially a product for her own consumption became a premium product on the shelves of Fortnum & Mason. Eight months later, she quit her job and went all-in. Organic, Soil Association-certified gin became her USP.
 

The full package

For Philippa, her focus on organic products goes hand-in-hand with sustainability “For me, it's vital that all of our products are sustainable... it's part of our organic ethos and DNA. Both sustainability and ingredient quality are also important considerations for lots of us, helping her become a first-choice gin for businesses and consumers alike.

Through a dogged thoroughness and a commitment to the highest standards, Philippa managed to create sustainable bottles with organic ink: “I wasn't going to compromise, because otherwise, I will be no different from anybody else. And that is not why I started this.”
 

Coping with new challenges

As with a lot of businesses, 2020 has created unforeseen challenges. With pubs and bars closed, Philippa had to adapt – and quickly. 

“I think for the first week, I was in sheer panic. But you realise you can't control or have any effect on what's happening, I really focused on my online retailers, and also my own website”. 

As a result, the website’s presence has grown, evolving her direct-to-consumer model. She’s continued to do deliveries herself, making sure that her spirits are enjoyed across London and beyond.

“Using Zipcar has been great because I've been able to get out there and do more local deliveries myself, which really helps because it's so much more personable. To be able to see my stockists that having been such a tough time and to put in that face time with them, for me is absolutely invaluable.”