Royal accolade as UK's bestselling friendly bacteria brand receives the King's Award for Enterprise

A family owned and run firm which is now the UK’s bestselling and most recommended friendly bacteria brand has officially received the King’s Award for Enterprise.

Andover-based Optibac Probiotics was presented with the award, in the international trade category, by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, Nigel Atkinson.

The King’s Awards are regarded as being among the most prestigious for UK businesses with the entire Optibac team celebrating the accolade alongside the company’s 20th anniversary.

It is the second royal accolade for the brand as Optibac previously won a Queen’s Award in 2019.

The presentation was attended by the Mayor of Test Valley, Cllr Ian Jeffery, as well as Optibac’s 100 team members and founding siblings: Jalal, Soraya and Farah Janmohamed.

Soraya said: “It’s a huge honour to receive the King’s Award.

“Here at Optibac we really believe in what we do – and I don’t just mean us founders, but the whole team.

“We have a collective belief in the power of our supplements and a shared vision for the success of this business.

“We are very grateful for this recognition and it’s a true testament to the collective hard work, expertise and passion across the entire team.”

The King’s Awards celebrate outstanding achievements by UK businesses and were instituted by Royal Warrant back in 1965.

Each entry is judged by a specialist panel that makes a recommendation to the Prime Minister’s Advisory Committee.

His Majesty King Charles then decides the winners, who each receive an official grant of appointment and an invitation to a celebratory reception at Buckingham Palace.

Optibac, which operates in over 25 international markets, impressed judges with its rapid growth including a projected turnover exceeding £24 million in 2024/25.

The King’s Award win comes at a particularly significant time for Optibac as the company celebrates two decades of success pioneering the probiotics industry.

Founded in 2004 with the inspiration of their community pharmacist father, who practised for over 35 years, the brand has grown exponentially from its family origins into a global powerhouse.

Soraya said: “Looking back over the last 20 years, I’m filled with immense pride and gratitude.

“It’s been a remarkable journey, and with the support of our incredible team, loyal customers, and valued partners, we’ve helped millions of people support their health around the world.

“As we look to the future, Jalal, Farah, and I are more passionate than ever about continuing to improve lives through the best friendly bacteria supplements.

“We’ll keep innovating, expanding our range, and staying true to the values that have guided us for the past 20 years.”