EHF Fellows: Tesh Randall and Seb Walter
New Zealand’s favourite coconut yoghurt makers
When Tesh Randall’s partner, Seb Walter, developed a dairy allergy it meant giving up the couple’s favourite breakfast meal of yoghurt, berries, and granola. Tesh searched stores for a good, dairy-free alternative but ultimately decided to take on the challenge herself.
In a process of trial and error, Tesh eventually concocted a coconut-based yoghurt alternative that wouldn’t offend Seb’s allergies.
For the past four years, Raglan’s Yoghurt has grown from a kitchen experiment into a widely popular brand supplying over 500 stores and cafes around New Zealand. The couple has even earned the nicknames Mr. Coconut and Mrs. Coconut.
“While we are very much a team, making all key decisions together, I handle the ‘people’ side of the business and Seb takes care of the technical and production sides of the business.”
-Tesh Randall
Raglan Coconut Yoghurt is now the leading dairy-free yoghurt producer in New Zealand.
They are currently producing around 70,000 jars of yoghurt per month and growing 100% year on year.
“We want to see the supermarket shelves change to healthier, more sustainable food options than the current status quo and are excited to be part of that change.”
-Tesh Randall and Sebastian Walter
On top of being dairy-free, Raglan Coconut Yoghurt is also free from soy, nuts, GMOs, gums, refined sugars, animal products, and gluten so they can be enjoyed by practically anyone.
Their product selection has expanded from the traditional, tart plain yoghurt to include eight flavours like lemon, strawberry & açai, vanilla bean, and raspberry & lime.
While growth is important, Tesh says that they are also focused on creating a positive business for their employees and customers.
“We are passionate about running an ethical business that gives back.”
-Tesh Randall
They have taken care to weave sustainability into the fabric of their business and currently support and partner with several environmental projects in New Zealand.
“[Seb] and I believe that business can be a tool for good. Doing the right thing by the Earth, people, and the ocean is important to us.”
Tesh calls herself and Seb “beach-loving hippies at heart” and says they always have new projects on tap to try and make a difference where they can.
Right now they are partnering with Million Metres to plant 2,143 trees along a local polluted stream, sponsoring permaculture beehives for families and schools around NZ, and fundraising for Kiwis Against Seabed Mining, World Wildlife Fund, Lifewise, and Sea Cleaners.
“Currently our focus is a goal of 1,000,000 pieces of plastic removed from beaches; encouraging our customers to get out there and do clean-ups.”
-Tesh Randall
In the next couple of years, Seb and Tesh would like to create a ‘food hub’ in Raglan, enabling other businesses to get started and using the experience and network they’ve built up as a springboard for their success.
“We have a strong desire to make a difference. Although we’re already doing that as much as possible with Raglan Coconut Yoghurt, we see ourselves doing more in future in the social enterprise and philanthropic space.”
-Tesh Randall and Sebastian Walter
Their goal is to put great leadership in place over the next 1–2 years so that they can free up time for new ventures.
Seb and Tesh have many interests on top of dairy-free yoghurt including sustainable living (they have built a yurt and tiny house on their land), bee-keeping, gardening, writing (Tesh has three books published), and surfing.
Tesh also works as the editor of ‘Arrival’ travel magazine, so she has a keen interest in everything going on around New Zealand.
“I often get to travel around visiting cool spots and meeting interesting people.”
-Tesh Randall
The couple is excited to be partnering with the Edmund Hillary Fellowship where they hope to join with other change makers hoping to make Aotearoa a better place to live and work.
“EHF sounds like an amazing gathering of good people, and we [are honoured to have] the privilege of being part of it and contributing to the korero.”
Are you a visionary entrepreneur, investor, or changemaker building solutions to global challenges? You can bring your vision to reality from New Zealand by joining the Edmund Hillary Fellowship. Apply here.
