Super healthy cookies – BobRockz - made by two enterprising Swiss International School Dubai (SISD) pupils - caught the eye of leading retailer Spinneys, which gave the duo one of its 2021 Local Business Incubator Awards.

The Spinneys Local Business Incubator award launched in 2020 to identify and support entrepreneurial ambitions and develop businesses in the UAE’s fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. The programme offers entrepreneurs a quick route to market with several benefits.

But the year 2021 winners were one of the youngest entrepreneurs ever to receive an incubator award.

Devi, aged 8, (aka Bobby) and Meera, aged 6 (aka Rocky), together makes BobRockz Cookie company. Devi, at nearly 4 yrs old, decided to make her own healthy cookies after watching the movie Zootopia and was inspired by the character Judy Hopp,- Bunny who says “Anyone Can Be Anything”.  

Devi, due to her intolerances, started to explore in the kitchen with her mum, when she was just 18 months – and by the time she was four, was baking her favourite chocolate cookies all by herself.

Devi (Bobby) says: “We are here to create a world of our own, where clean eating is for everyone. We are ready to be seen, heard and known - and we don’t need to wait to grow up. Anyone can be anything! Fairytales need not be about prince and princesses, BobRockz is a fairytale for us.”

The KG2 and 3-grade pupils wanted the cookies to be healthy due to their dietary and allergen needs – which include intolerances to gluten, dairy, eggs and white sugar - and so spent many years, with help from mum, Anupa, perfecting recipes for cookies which are ‘clean’ – vegan and free from gluten, nuts, refined sugar, artificial flavours, preservatives and palm oil – but still tasty!

Judges were impressed by the entrepreneurial skill shown by the girls, who keep the exact recipes for their cookies under wraps. But the delicious cookies come in a range of flavours including “Classic Chocolate Chip”, “Breakfast Super Seed” and special editions for occasions and events like Eid and Pink Caravan, when the kids made a limited-edition chocolate cookie topped with 24 carat gold!

The cookie creators beat off numerous companies with their presentation and product, which includes nutritious flour blends and plant-based ingredients such as pumpkin seeds, sun-dried dates, red rice, mung beans, lentils and pulses.

With the help of mum, the girls have sold their cookies at Dubai’s Ripe Market, and already have a growing social media presence.

Spinneys will now stock the cookies in the fresh bakery area of 16 stores, from end of March.
The cookies which come in two flavours, will be sold for AED19, for a pack of 4 cookies.

The girls want to make sure that healthy and clean ingredient eating is for everyone so they made their cookie cost less than your daily cup of coffee.

SISD School Principal Ruth Burke says: “The journey of BobRockz has been organic and has enriched the girls with invaluable practical lessons along the way. The students and staff are over the moon and can’t wait to grab their cookies from the stores. BobRockz is a beautiful example that dreams do come true, and we are very proud of what these young entrepreneurs have achieved.”

Spinneys will sell the cookies for 12 months in store, and the award includes selling online via Spinneys website, in store promotion and sampling, and coaching sessions with senior commercial and marketing management during the next year, should the girls wish for such sessions.

Proposed Quote from Spinneys: “BobRockz is a product which ticks a lot of boxes for what the average Spinneys customer is looking for. The unique recipe is healthy, and we are seeing ongoing interest in healthier snacks and treats from our customers. We are delighted to support such young passionate and creative entrepreneurs.”

Since launch, the Incubator programme has been praised by the UAE government’s Food and Water Security office for its contribution to the National Food Security Strategy.

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Swiss International School in Dubai

Global in outlook, bilingual in approach, Swiss in culture, and yet firmly rooted in the local community of Dubai – that’s Swiss International School in Dubai, or SISD.

The Swiss International Scientific School in Dubai (SISD), Dubai’s first bilingual International Baccalaureate School, opened in 2015, and is the largest Swiss school outside Switzerland.

The school is a leading international day and boarding school where future generations are inspired to become confident and enthusiastic lifelong learners, properly prepared to embrace all the opportunities and challenges life presents.

With a diverse student body of 1800 pupils comprising more than 100 different nationalities, the school believes the next generation of international citizens will need to be dynamic, flexible and linguistically ambitious. With this in mind, SISD offers immersive bilingual programmes in either of the Swiss languages of French and German, but also a strong English programme with foreign languages. For students who don’t wish to pursue a fully bilingual programme, there is a unique STEAM programme for all children from age 4-11 years. SISD stands out as one of only a handful of educational establishments globally classified as an IB Continuum school, which means it offers International Baccalaureate education to pupils from age 3 to 18.

Offering day school, weekly or full-term boarding options, this leading educational institution offers state-of-the-art STEAM education, and has world-class sporting facilities, too.

The school has laid out its B.E.S.T. Values, as follows:

Bilingual

A unique international and multilingual environment provides students with authentic exposure to English, French, German and Arabic. Students in the immersive bilingual programmes learn to communicate, think and reflect in two different languages. As global citizens, SISD celebrates diversity, promoting all languages and cultures with equal respect.

Excellence

SISD staff believes in maintaining high standards and aspire to be the best they can be. A spirit of enquiry, encouraging both creative and critical thinking is fostered.

Sustainability

Students and staff believe that social, cultural, economic and environmental awareness prepare us to play our part in shaping a better future, both for ourselves and for those around us. The school campus is eco-friendly, winning international acclaim and awards for using less energy to create a comfortable and healthy environment.

Together

In the school’s international community, we know that we are at our best when we all work together. We view active participation in the community, from the most local to the most global, as the foundation of a valuable life. 

Media contact:
Ananda Shakespeare
Shakespeare Communications
ananda@shakespearecomms.com
www.shakespearecomms.com