Born in Kerala. Forgot about coconuts. Came back.
Jacob Thundil grew up in Kerala — whose name in Sanskrit means the land of coconut trees. His favourite childhood memory was watching the man who came to cut coconuts from the trees. He moved to London, built a corporate career, and forgot about coconuts — until a beach vendor in Brazil handed him one in 2003. Kerala came back to him instantly. The resignation letter went in and out of his pocket many times. That was 2004. He has never stopped asking the same question: would I eat this? In 22 years the answer has always had to be yes.
All five Dragons offered to invest. Jacob turned them all down.
Mass market distribution meant compromises he was not willing to make. Twenty years later, that decision looks different to what it did then.
"The product was more important than the money."
Hear Jacob tell it himself.
Great Taste Awards since 2004.
Judged blind by 500 food experts. No packaging. No branding. Just the product. Every award we have was earned that way.
