Manchester-based CBD start-up, Mission C, is vowing to take a significant share of the £1bn UK CBD market (forecast for the next two years) following a 120% sales growth in just 12 months. Launched in 2020 by 28-year old, Qes Hussain, the ecommerce brand has set out ambitious growth plans as it looks to gain nationwide retail listings with its premium sleep, skincare and post-workout CBD formulations.
Originally founded as a labour of love as a holistic remedy to support Qes’ grandad’s dementia symptoms, the past 12 months have seen the business grow exponentially as the UK CBD market soars. It has been featured in Vogue and GQ magazine, has a five star rating on Trustpilot and later this year will be appearing at Fearne Cotton’s Happy Festival.
Qes Hussain, said: “The initial concept for Mission C was inspired by my grandad. When he was diagnosed with dementia we felt a little lost as a family. How could we help him when there is no cure? It felt like the behavioral symptoms of dementia were one of the hardest to deal with as a family and we had medication that wasn’t helping, in fact it was worsening the symptoms.
“We wanted to do the best we possibly could. We adjusted Grandad’s well-being routine to incorporate a range of natural herbs, vitamins and medicines such as ashwagandha, magnesium, turmeric, ginger, and most notably, CBD oil. Grandad responded positively, sleeping better and finding his calm – much to the whole family’s relief.
“It surprised me that CBD was so widely misunderstood and carried with it a wave of misconceptions around its legality and also the mental and physical benefits it can have.
Speaking about why Qes decided to leave his career in real estate to focus on CBD products, he commented, “After I looked into the market more I found that consumers, retailers, and stockists were looking for a trusted and high-quality brand to cut through the noise. I felt I could create something which elevated the current quality and visual identity of CBD, making it more accessible to the UK public.”
Qes invested heavily and worked alongside leading scientists and health consultants to create both natural and high-quality formulations to help others deal with the impact of stress, just like CBD helped alleviate some of his grandad’s dementia symptoms.
“Stress can affect us in many ways. From a poor night’s sleep, brain fog and periods of anxiety to physical pain, inflammation and skin irritations. It is a physical response to a situation and if we experience prolonged periods, it can become seriously detrimental to well being, with raised cortisol levels leading to high blood sugar and blood pressure, explains Qes.
During the past two years in the UK, more and more people have turned to CBD oil as a form of stress management. CBD is a naturally occurring cannabinoid of the hemp plant which is known to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and stress*.
CBD is capable of influencing your stress levels by interacting with your endocannabinoid system – a complex biological system that is responsible for regulating mood, appetite, sleep, metabolism and many more physiological and neurological processes. Research has shown that CBD’s interaction with endocannabinoid receptors can result in uptake of serotonin – this is known as the ‘happy hormone’ since it is linked to feelings of happiness, contentment and general wellness.
Mission C’s best selling products include a Day + CBD Oil (£34.99) which increases energy and focus and reduces anxiety, a intensely relaxing overnight CBD oil infused with natural Passionflower, Chamomile & Myrcene (£34.99) and a Pre-Workout + CBD Heating Muscle Balm, (£34.99) which stimulates blood flow and reduces inflammation. There’s also a new premium CBD skincare range which is helping to revolutionise current beauty regimes leaving skin looking more youthful.
Qes is a big advocate of building a community and as such runs a number of events including partnering with the Manchester Giants basketball team and supporting key events such as the Manchester Wellness Festival. Mission C will also be attending Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place Festival later in the year.
He said: We are on a mission to create high quality and natural products that will transform lives and build a community of people that will become more aware of the natural benefits of CBD. Education is at the core of everything that we do, and we have created an extensive learning hub using the latest scientific evidence on our website. We are also encouraging people to join the mission by sharing their own experiences and stories, and in turn help educate others.”
