At Treat Kitchen, every sweet, chocolate, and gingerbread creation is designed to bring a smile, and none of that would be possible without co-founder Jess Barnett. Jess leads the company’s marketing and brand strategy, making sure every product and campaign reflects Treat Kitchen’s joyful, design-led approach. She also oversees the company’s CSR initiatives and is Vice Chair of the partner charity Double Impact, which supports people in recovery from all forms of addiction.

Our friends at Huggg recently asked Jess to share some of her experiences as a female co-founder, and we are excited to share her story here.

Jess lives in Lincolnshire with her husband Martin (CEO of Treat Kitchen!) and their two children, Max (12) and Lottie (9). She is driven by a simple but powerful goal, to show her children what female leadership can look like: authentic, resilient, and rooted in kindness.

Check out Huggg HERE

The Story Behind Treat Kitchen

Treat Kitchen began in 2014, shortly after Max was born. Jess, Martin, and her brother-in-law wanted to create a business that allowed them to work together while staying close to home. With family links to the confectionery world dating back to the 1890s, the opportunity was there to create something truly modern, a fresh take on traditional sweet shops.

Their mission was simple. They wanted to create joyful, thoughtful gifts that could sit just as comfortably in a boutique or homeware shop as on a kitchen counter. Starting small in Nottingham, the brand has grown far beyond its early days. Today, Treat Kitchen products are enjoyed across the UK and overseas, but the core purpose has not changed, joyful gifting, built with creativity, family values, and a whole lot of hard work.

Partnering with Huggg: Making Gifting Even Easier

One of the most exciting parts of our recent growth has been our partnership with Huggg, a digital gifting platform that lets people send real-world gifts instantly via text or email. Recipients redeem their gift at a participating retailer, with no stress, no wrapping, just a thoughtful surprise delivered instantly.

For Treat Kitchen, Huggg is a perfect fit. We want gifting to be joyful, easy, and accessible, and Huggg extends that joy into the digital space. Whether it is a colleague celebrating a win, a friend needing a pick-me-up, or a family member far away, Huggg helps Treat Kitchen’s treats make someone’s day, wherever they are.

Check them out here: Huggg. In the month of March, Huggg are marking International Women’s Day by speaking to some of their partners and discovering more about their experiences as female founders.

Lessons from Jess: Balancing Leadership & Family

Running a business while raising a family is never straightforward. Jess says the hardest part has been balancing work and home life. There are times when guilt creeps in - feeling like you’re not giving enough to the children, or not enough to the business.

When Lottie was born, maternity leave wasn’t really an option. Jess remembers packing orders while carrying her in a baby carrier, juggling the role of new mum and founder. It could feel isolating at times, but now the kids understand what we do, and hopefully see that hard work and passion can build something meaningful.

Her advice to other women founders is to be yourself.

“It’s easy to look at other founders and feel you need to fit a mould, but your business will always be stronger if it is built around your personality, values, and ethics. Bring people into your team who complement your strengths, you do not need to be everything.”

Proudest Moments

Jess says there have been many pinch-me moments, but one of the proudest was seeing Treat Kitchen products in Tesco, the UK’s largest supermarket chain.

What made it even more meaningful was watching the incredible women in the team grow and shine.

Leah, Buying Director, from shop assistant to sourcing products worldwide.

Izzy, Designer, bringing creativity and joy to every product.

Lydia, Marketing Exec, joining straight from university and now managing campaigns and socials.

Seeing these women develop their skills and shape the brand has been just as rewarding as any commercial milestone.

Bringing It All Together

Treat Kitchen has always been about more than sweets. It is about family, creativity, and community. Partnering with Huggg has allowed us to bring that joy to more people, more easily than ever before.

Joyful gifting made effortless. That is Treat Kitchen.