Summer is so short in Finland that you have to enjoy while it lasts. This is the reason why we spend most of our time outdoors in summertime. Getting out of the house with small children equates with packing lots of stuff – water bottles, jackets, sunscreen, … – including snacks. Today I want to share with you a series of snack products I’m quite excited about for a number of reasons.

Alex & Phil is a Swedish family-run business that sells children’s on-the-go snacks and meals, with a strong focus on nutrition, sustainability, and social responsibility. How can it get better than this? These are all core values of our family! It is rare nowadays to meet products that check all these boxes. The company has a background story many of us would identify with. It was funded by Jenny, a new mother who wanted to celebrate her children, Alex and Phil that is. She also wanted to build a business funded on strong core values: transparency, social responsibility, and more. I recommend to read the full story because it’s really exciting – an example of how things should be run. The business makes 10 clear promises to their customers.

The first thing you are going to love it’s how practical and “mom’s bag-friendly” the packaging is. It’s a squeeze pouch that fits all ages: you can squeeze it in a container and spoon-feed your baby, or you can hand it to your older child for a fuss-free quick snack. Next, the taste: we tried 3 smoothies (yes, I did too, I’m a serious tester). We didn’t like the orange one (yellow cap) because we found it too sour for our palate, but the other two (red and green caps) were yummy. After the first taste, my children jumped in excitement every time I pulled the smoothies out of my bag. What do Alex&Phil smoothies contain? The first thing I noticed was how clear and honest the ingredients’ list was, with the exact percentage of every ingredient. And they are all organic! To be precise, they abide to regulations even stricter than the basic organic EU requirements. The smoothies contain fruit and quinoa, a famous superfood. Their products are all lactose- and gluten-free, making them hypoallergenic.

Then there’s the corporate social responsibility bit, starting from the environment. I was so impressed when I read what lengths this business goes to cancel their impact on the environment. Alex&Phil tracks the climate impact of production and transportation, and strives to be climate neutral. They ship by land and sea to limit the emissions of their deliveries. Like this wasn’t enough, Alex&Phil has started a foundation that works in partnership with SOS Children’s Villages Sweden. Part of their sales – regardless of profits – goes to support the charity’s activities in vulnerable communities, especially in Central Africa. With each product you buy, you actively contribute to support relief activities.

Alex&Phil products are marketed internationally. Where to find them in Finland? K-group shops and Prisma sell them or you can buy them from their the online store. Their online store has currently a promotion granting free home delivery! I am truly impressed by these products and what this family business has achieved. It is extremely rare to find a combination of all these good qualities in products and businesses. I am excited I have found them and will surely continue to support them.

We were sent some smoothies to test by Alex&Phil. Opinions are mine and sincere. Read about my values here.