Post by carol on Oct 22, 2016 17:13:12 GMT
Gareth has just won an award, and been shortlisted for another one. Read about it here.
I am so proud of
him!!
love Carol xxx
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3am Celebrity News Gareth Gates
Pop idol Gareth Gates scoops prestigious award - for his coconut tea
21:00, 21 OCT 2016 UPDATED 09:01, 22 OCT 2016
BY RUKI SAYID
The heart-throb singer turned entrepreneur created the award winning cuppa on his kitchen table
FWROGareth Gates performing on stage
Chart star Gareth Gates has gone from Pop Idol to Cup Idol after scooping a coveted industry gong for his innovative coconut tea.
The heart-throb singer turned entrepreneur created the award winning cuppa on his kitchen table while recovering from an op on his vocal chords.
And, just five months after it hit shelves in health food store Holland and Barrett, Gareth’s Cuppanut, won an Oscar for Alternative Hot Beverage at the prestigious Good Choice! Quality Food Awards.
Gareth, 32, shot to fame as a runner up in Pop Idol in 2002 which caused a shock when the fresh faced singer was pipped to the top spot by Will Young .
But he reckons his acclaimed tea, which has been shortlisted for another accolade - is his crowning glory.
READ MORE
Gareth Gates with his award winning brew
His new life as a health nut with a six-pack who works out at the gym everyday and only drinks alcohol occasionally, is a million miles from the heady days of girls screaming at gigs and a string of number one hits.
While he still tours in musicals and is signed up for a Christmas panto in Belfast, he’s more likely to be found testing different ingredients for his coconut based tea too expand the range from three.
Speaking after picking an award for his Cuppanut Coconut, Ginger and Turmeric Infusion he said: “This is almost more exciting than Pop Idol.
“This is almost more exciting than Pop Idol. To win an award in six months is simply awesome”.
Gareth has ploughed £55,000 into the product - believed to be the first hot coconut drink in the world.
But while he’s now being feted in the food and drink world, it was a different story two years ago when he went through the “hell” of an operation on his vocal chords.
It was the price he paid for a partying hard, eating junk food and not taking care of the voice that was his fortune.
Gareth said: “I was looking for a hot drink that I could enjoy. I can’t drink coffee because caffeine give me a migraine and at the time everyone was going crazy for coconut.
“It was in everything but no-one had used it for a hot drink.”
Intrigued how it would taste, the fledging businessman began experimenting with different ground coconut combinations at his kitchen table.
“I bought a load of peppermint tea bags then cut off the tops of the bags and put in coconut, sealed them up and then made tea.
“It took a while to get the balance right and then I got in touch with a development company to make it a reality.”
Launched on his website first, a simple tweet was picked up by high street chain Holland and Barrett who snapped up Cuppanut for its 740 stores after meeting the star.
“My name probably helped get me the meeting but its the product that makes or breaks you and thankfully, they really liked it.”
Gareth, who is dating Coronation Street star Faye Brookes still hopes to make a chart comeback but adores being a businessman during he day and treading the boards at night.
He said: “I’m a big fan of no regrets. I still perform and I would like to return to being a pop star again and doing an album.
ITVGareth Gates on This MorningGareth Gates says he has no regrets
“But my voice is still up and down and needs rest so I’m trying to be really healthy and look after myself.”
He still keeps in touch with his Pop Idol pal Will Young and felt for him when he walked out of Strictly Come Dancing for “personal reasons”.
And he confessed it’s a show he would love to be on after Dancing in Ice gave him a taste for ballroom.
Now a father of a six-year-old daughter Missy from a previous relationship, he revealed both him and his fans have come of age.
“Before they used to scream at gigs now they just hold up boxes of Cuppanut,” he quipped.
Following his win, Gareth is hoping for a double after making the last 11 of the Co-op’s Small Producer of the Year Award.
The winner will be announced on Nov 10 but he is already making plans to make the three varieties of Cuppanut a hit abroad.
He has his eye on Germany, Canada and Asia and once panto finishes will use a five month break to expand the business.
“The plan is to work really hard then retire in ten years time - and own a yacht,” he said in a nod to his showbiz roots.
I am so proud of
him!!love Carol xxx
Home
3am Celebrity News Gareth Gates
Pop idol Gareth Gates scoops prestigious award - for his coconut tea
21:00, 21 OCT 2016 UPDATED 09:01, 22 OCT 2016
BY RUKI SAYID
The heart-throb singer turned entrepreneur created the award winning cuppa on his kitchen table
FWROGareth Gates performing on stage
Chart star Gareth Gates has gone from Pop Idol to Cup Idol after scooping a coveted industry gong for his innovative coconut tea.
The heart-throb singer turned entrepreneur created the award winning cuppa on his kitchen table while recovering from an op on his vocal chords.
And, just five months after it hit shelves in health food store Holland and Barrett, Gareth’s Cuppanut, won an Oscar for Alternative Hot Beverage at the prestigious Good Choice! Quality Food Awards.
Gareth, 32, shot to fame as a runner up in Pop Idol in 2002 which caused a shock when the fresh faced singer was pipped to the top spot by Will Young .
But he reckons his acclaimed tea, which has been shortlisted for another accolade - is his crowning glory.
READ MORE
Gareth Gates with his award winning brew
His new life as a health nut with a six-pack who works out at the gym everyday and only drinks alcohol occasionally, is a million miles from the heady days of girls screaming at gigs and a string of number one hits.
While he still tours in musicals and is signed up for a Christmas panto in Belfast, he’s more likely to be found testing different ingredients for his coconut based tea too expand the range from three.
Speaking after picking an award for his Cuppanut Coconut, Ginger and Turmeric Infusion he said: “This is almost more exciting than Pop Idol.
“This is almost more exciting than Pop Idol. To win an award in six months is simply awesome”.
Gareth has ploughed £55,000 into the product - believed to be the first hot coconut drink in the world.
But while he’s now being feted in the food and drink world, it was a different story two years ago when he went through the “hell” of an operation on his vocal chords.
It was the price he paid for a partying hard, eating junk food and not taking care of the voice that was his fortune.
Gareth said: “I was looking for a hot drink that I could enjoy. I can’t drink coffee because caffeine give me a migraine and at the time everyone was going crazy for coconut.
“It was in everything but no-one had used it for a hot drink.”
Intrigued how it would taste, the fledging businessman began experimenting with different ground coconut combinations at his kitchen table.
“I bought a load of peppermint tea bags then cut off the tops of the bags and put in coconut, sealed them up and then made tea.
“It took a while to get the balance right and then I got in touch with a development company to make it a reality.”
Launched on his website first, a simple tweet was picked up by high street chain Holland and Barrett who snapped up Cuppanut for its 740 stores after meeting the star.
“My name probably helped get me the meeting but its the product that makes or breaks you and thankfully, they really liked it.”
Gareth, who is dating Coronation Street star Faye Brookes still hopes to make a chart comeback but adores being a businessman during he day and treading the boards at night.
He said: “I’m a big fan of no regrets. I still perform and I would like to return to being a pop star again and doing an album.
ITVGareth Gates on This MorningGareth Gates says he has no regrets
“But my voice is still up and down and needs rest so I’m trying to be really healthy and look after myself.”
He still keeps in touch with his Pop Idol pal Will Young and felt for him when he walked out of Strictly Come Dancing for “personal reasons”.
And he confessed it’s a show he would love to be on after Dancing in Ice gave him a taste for ballroom.
Now a father of a six-year-old daughter Missy from a previous relationship, he revealed both him and his fans have come of age.
“Before they used to scream at gigs now they just hold up boxes of Cuppanut,” he quipped.
Following his win, Gareth is hoping for a double after making the last 11 of the Co-op’s Small Producer of the Year Award.
The winner will be announced on Nov 10 but he is already making plans to make the three varieties of Cuppanut a hit abroad.
He has his eye on Germany, Canada and Asia and once panto finishes will use a five month break to expand the business.
“The plan is to work really hard then retire in ten years time - and own a yacht,” he said in a nod to his showbiz roots.
