Founder Story | Naked Kimchi Co

Katerina Hayes, winner of the Great British Businesswomen Award in Food and Drink 2023.

Naked Kimchi & Co, finalist for the prestigious StartUp UK Awards 2024,

has a remarkable journey shaped by her Ukrainian upbringing. Raised in Ukraine, where fermentation was a cherished tradition, Katerina's culinary roots run deep. Influenced by her grandfather, a dietary specialist chef, and her father, a fusion chef with a love for Asian flavours, Katerina developed a passion for food from an early age.

Her journey took a pivotal turn on Sakhalin Island, where she immersed herself in the vibrant world of Korean cuisine. Here, she discovered the diversity of kimchi, igniting her passion for fermentation. Relocating to Glasgow in 2008, Katerina missed the flavours of her homeland and began fermenting her own kimchi, bridging the culinary gap in her life.

In 2022, amidst the turmoil of war, Katerina had to help her family move from Ukraine. This experience sparked a social mission to give refugees the opportunity to rebuild their lives. Through Naked Kimchi & Co, Katerina has provided employment to nine part-time workers from Ukraine, offering them a chance for stability and growth.

Katerina's background in engineering equipped her with transferable skills that she gradually applied to building a fermentation prodcution company. Committed to the circular economy, sustainability, and food security, Katerina partners with local farmers and employs refugees, creating a community-centered ecosystem. Naked Kimchi & Co works closely with food establishments in Scotland and beyond, caring for the nation's microbiome and promoting the future of food.

Today, Naked Kimchi & Co's vegan and gluten-free kimchi is celebrated across the UK for its delicious and nutritious qualities. From Strathclyde University Student Union to high-end eateries, Katerina's vision of food as a force for positive change is evident in every bite. Through her leadership, Katerina Hayes continues to inspire, showcasing the transformative power of tradition, sustainability, and a genuine love for food and community.