Waitrose and Itsu are both stocking the new range

Gü founder James Averdieck has unveiled his new brand - dairy-free yoghurt range The Coconut Collaborative.

After trialling dairy-free yoghurts last year under the Bessant & Drury brand that he owns a controlling stake in, he has now rolled out a full range under the new brand.

The 120g pots launched into 53 Waitrose stores this week and will also go into the 40-strong Itsu restaurant and shop chain. They are available in natural; raspberry; mango & passion fruit (all rsp: £1.50); and a ‘superfoods’ variant that is a natural yoghurt with a packet of ingredients including goji berries, chia and linseed.

The launch comes about 10 months after entrepreneur Averdieck, who sold Gü to Noble Foods in 2010, bought a controlling interest in coconut-based frozen desserts business Bessant & Drury.

“I think this really is the start of something,” said Averdieck. “There is a lot of interest in the market in dairy-free and in coconut products.”

Averdieck added he was in talks with other retailers about listings.

Bessant & Drury dairy-free ice creams are sold in retailers including Tesco and Waitrose.