Rishi Sunak has praised the growth of a North Yorkshire retail business after seeing firsthand how the home-grown start-up has grown into a multi-million-pound concern.
The MP for Richmond and Northallerton visited Yolo Inc in Richmond, meeting founder and CEO Scott Woodhead and touring the company’s warehouse to observe daily operations.
During his visit, Mr Sunak helped package a customer order and learned about the firm’s automated e-commerce systems.
Rishi Sunak visits Yolo Inc in Richmond (Image: Supplied)
He said: “It’s fantastic to see a business like YOLO growing right here in Richmond. Scott’s journey from a start-up idea to an award-winning company shows the ambition, resilience and innovation we have in our local economy.
“Businesses like this are creating skilled jobs, embracing technology and backing their teams and that’s exactly the kind of success story we want to see more of.”
Yolo Inc was launched in 2014 with just £2,000 by Mr Woodhead, following a life-changing car accident.
The business began in his home kitchen and quickly evolved into a multi-brand retail group, introducing brands such as My Glasses Club and BRUU, before being valued at several million pounds.
Rishi Sunak at Yolo Inc (Image: Supplied)
At the start of 2025, the company refocused its operations with guidance from entrepreneur Sir Richard Harpin, consolidating 16 businesses into two core brands: Scayl and Amazonas.
Mr Woodhead said: “It was great to welcome Rishi to YOLO and show him what we’re building. The business is growing faster, the team is happier, and things feel clearer and more focused than they’ve ever been.
“We’ve been here for over a decade, but honestly it feels like we’re only just getting started.
“Our plans for 2026 are all about refining what we do best and pushing towards our ambition of building a future unicorn business right here in the North Yorkshire.”
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The streamlined approach has strengthened performance and clarified the company’s long-term vision.
Yolo has received several awards, including Retail Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2024 Great British Entrepreneur Awards, along with multiple regional and Richmond business honours.
Mr Sunak’s visit highlighted the contribution of small and medium-sized enterprises to the regional economy.
