Bristol café group Friska and Mubaloo, the app developer launched in the city, have been named among the UK’s 50 fastest-growing and most-innovative businesses.
Friska, which launched in 2009 and now has four outlets across Bristol, has been included in the latest Santander Breakthrough 50 – a national table of inspiring businesses.
The firm has ambitions to be a national chain operating from 50 cafes within the next seven to 10 years.
It focuses on serving fresh, interesting, responsibly-sourced food in a friendly and hospitable environment, both sit down and take away.
Mubaloo, launched by Bristol serial entrepreneur Mark Mason, works with major firms to develop innovative apps across a range of platforms including iPhones, Androids, Blackberrys and Windows Phone.
Since its launch in 2009, the firm has built more than 200 bespoke mobile apps for leading firms in the insurance, retail, gaming, utilities, telecoms, financial, logistics, construction, public and health sectors.
It has been recognised as App Developer of the Year 2012 & 2013 at the Appsters and holds a number of other awards for its work in creating transformative mobile tools.
Its clients include Hargreaves Lansdown, Haymarket, Laing O’Rourke, Reckitt Benckiser, Canon, HP, Aviva, the Met Office, RAC and Scania.
The Breakthrough 50, compiled by Santander Bank in partnership with Smarta, aims to uncover businesses that are transforming established industries, leading the entrepreneurial movement in the UK and inspiring others to grow and push the economy forward.
Other firms on the list include Pod Good Food and BrewDog. 
Friska co-founder Griff Holland said: “The recognition we have been receiving over recent months makes me really proud. We have a fantastic team who work incredibly hard to help the company grow and this is reflected by the success we have seen over the past few years”.
Pictured: Friska's Griff Holland and Ed Brown
Fellow co-Founder Ed Brown added: “To be rubbing shoulders with such industry game-changers is exceptionally exciting. We have worked hard to get to where we are so to be recognised for our achievements within this forum makes us incredibly proud.”
Friska has 40 staff and has achieved 40% growth year-on-year to earn it a turnover of £1.5m.
Griff and Ed have also been jointly shortlisted in the Young Director of the Year and Corporate Responsibility categories in the prestigious Institute of Directors (IoD) regional awards which take place at Bristol’s Paintworks on June 12 and are supported by Bristol Business News. 
Pictured: Mark Mason of Mubaloo
