Published on 1st January 2026

A family-run drinks company in Washington continues to go from strength-to-strength, thanks not only to demand for its products, but also its positive impact on society. 

Holos, based on the Wiston estate, produce a growing range of all-natural kombucha. From humble beginnings, the business has steadily expanded and recently took a giant leap forward by partnering with Waitrose.  

It is run by a dynamic quartet comprised of two married couples: Tom and Naomi Partridge and their good friends Joseph and Megan Landreth-Smith. Each brings their own unique experience to the team, although the initial spark came from the wives... 

Naomi recalls: ‘I joined an international project that helps women who have been victims of trafficking, slavery and abuse. I met Megan for the first time at Heathrow, as she was the only other British person working on the project in Cambodia. We had the most incredible experience, working with exploited women in the capital, Phnom Penn. Women we met were keen to escape their situation and, like the rest of us, simply wanted a regular income to house, feed and educate their children. 

‘One woman we met had experience of nail treatments, so we bought her some basic equipment and she started to turn her life around by offering treatments at our hotel. Ultimately, we helped place her five children in education and it felt amazing to transform lives in that way. It demonstrated to us the power of employment when it comes to helping people. 

‘Megan remained in Cambodia for another six months, while I worked for the Sophie Hayes Foundation, which also helps women trafficked for sexual exploitation. After we had both returned to the UK, we met up and talked about ideas. Could we create our own business that – in its blueprint – is designed to provide opportunities and help people emerge from terrible situations?’

AN IDEA BREWS…

The two friends needed a product that would provide them with good market visibility and a platform to make a positive social impact. It also needed to have the potential to create a variety of jobs, from manufacturing and packaging to sales and marketing. One product ticked every box...

Megan first tasted kombucha in Phnom Penn when an American friend suggested it might help her overcome a bout of illness. She became a convert when kombucha – a fermented drink made from tea, sugar and a SCOBY (Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast) – helped her recover. Meanwhile, Naomi had spent a year in the States and seen kombucha’s popularity soar. So, they hatched a plan...  

Megan said: ‘We felt that demand for kombucha would continue to grow in the UK, which has proved to be the case. Our initial ideas were quite naïve, but what we did establish was a clear mission for the business.’

A NEW DAWN

In stark contrast to a finished work, Alison begins each piece with a rough sketch and light acrylic underpainting, gradually adding layers to make it increasingly more abstract and fragmented. It is through this process that she creates movement, a skill that she has evolved and refined with time.

Alison said: ‘I find the blending and positioning of colours very interesting, as this is what creates the shadow and light that gives a painting a sense of movement. I don’t follow a particular theory to achieve this; it’s just something I do intuitively. The colour palette I adopt is distinctive too. Traditionally, my work has prominently featured blues, greens and purples, and for a long time I felt comfortable working with a limited palette. Then, I was commissioned to paint a starling murmuration over Brighton Pier at sunset, which required blends of red, pink and orange. I found this very challenging, but really enjoyed it!’ 

COVER STORY

Much of Alison’s recent output focuses on swifts and other migratory birds, such as house martins and swallows. Some paintings depict swifts over local landmarks, including St Margaret’s Church in Warnham, while another captures Swifts over Broomlands Farm, near Alison’s home. This painting (on previous page) won the People’s Choice Award at the Association of Sussex Artists’ annual exhibition in Horsham in 2024.  

Alison said: ‘About 10 years ago, swifts started to nest in the roof of the farmhouse next door and I watched them from my studio. I was fascinated by them and would look forward to their arrival every summer. Swifts are on the UK’s red list of Birds of Conservation Concern, so it’s important we do everything we can to preserve them and their nest sites. Many share my passion for the birds, so I have received several commissions for swift paintings. One piece, Swifts and Swallows, featured on the cover of Charlie Bingham’s book, The Life Affirming Magic of Birds, while another was used for the cover to Mark Cocker’s book, One Midsummer’s Day. It has been nice for me to be involved in something different, even attending book signings alongside the authors.’ 

 THE REAL DEAL

In 2025, Holos launched a new range of canned organic sparkling tea to appeal to a different market. These include Jasmine Hops (Jasmine tea and Citra hops), Rooibos Ginger (Rooibos tea and ginger juice) and Cucumber Mint (Oolong tea and mint natural flavouring). Already, these contemporary products have attracted new clients including Ocado and Mindful Chef, and have even been sampled at Meta’s UK offices.  

Like its classic bottled range, the cans have a base in kombucha – a living, fermented tea that’s rich in organic acids and beneficial compounds. Probiotic content supports good gut health, while antioxidants in the tea can protect against cell damage. Other possible benefits include improved digestion, while anecdotal evidence has linked the drink to better heart health.  

Tom says: ‘Kombucha is probiotic, while the sparkling tea is prebiotic, as we use ingredients such as agave inulin, which create fuel for your gut bacteria. So, they literally feed off each other to improve your gut health and digestion. When it comes to the health benefits of kombucha, more research needs to be done to assess its full impact, as some claims made elsewhere are purely speculative or anecdotal.  

‘However, there is a clear link with gut health and people like (medical doctor) Tim Spector are big advocates of fermented foods. Some people have had bad experiences with kombucha in the past. One overseas brand flooded the market with a diluted product that contained very little kombucha, which tainted perceptions of the drink in the UK. Other brands followed suit, leaving many people confused as to what kombucha is or should be. That is something we are helping to change.’

MULLED OVER

With a range of organic kombucha, organic sparkling teas and – for a limited time only – a Mulled Spice Christmas kombucha – Holos now distributes across the UK, with products available in Whole Foods Market, Yo Sushi, Waterstones and Amazon Prime. For the first time, its products are available at a major supermarket too. Since November, Waitrose has offered three of its bottled kombuchas at 32 stores, including Horsham. If the trial is successful, Holos could be available at its stores across the country.   

Its benefits go beyond gut health too, as Holos has stayed true to Megan and Naomi’s original vision. Megan said: ‘We make a positive difference in two ways. Firstly, we provide paid work opportunities, usually through referrals from charitable organisations. These placements can last from just a month or two, right up to a year, providing a stepping stone for someone who has experienced trauma or exploitation.  

‘Additionally, we assigned 25% of the company shares to the Holos Foundation, our charitable arm. Already, we have provided a grant to a woman who previously worked with us to undergo therapy to aid her recovery. As we grow the business we grow the charity too, reaching more and more people. Currently our focus is the local area, as an estimated 100,000 people are impacted by exploitation in the UK alone, including refugees and asylum seekers. 

‘We want to meet the need in front of us before we start to look at needs elsewhere. We are trying to achieve this growth while simultaneously raising families too. While Tom and Joseph push on with the business, Naomi and I are still involved in making the key decisions. There’s a strong synergy between us and the ongoing success of Holos will depend on everyone.’ 

WORDS: Ben Morris/PHOTOS: Alan Wright

Further information:

You can purchase products on the website at: www.holoskombucha.com