CabinZero Honoured with The King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade 2025
We’re delighted to announce that we’ve been awarded has been awarded a King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade—an honour personally approved by His Majesty The King, and the most prestigious official UK business accolade. This prestigious recognition celebrates our commitment to crafting lightweight, cabin-ready travel gear that resonates with globetrotters around the world.
A Royal Seal of Approval
The King’s Awards for Enterprise, previously known as The Queen’s Awards, are the most prestigious business awards in the UK, recognising outstanding achievement by UK businesses. Winners are selected through a rigorous assessment process and are approved by His Majesty The King.
The King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade celebrates companies demonstrating exceptional international growth and commercial success. CABINZERO joins a distinguished list of past winners that includes renowned British brands such as Rolls-Royce, Berghaus, Dyson, and Brompton.
“Following in the footsteps of iconic British brands like Brompton, Dyson, and Rolls-Royce, CABINZERO is proud to represent the next generation of consumer innovation on the global stage,” said Founder and CEO, Neil Varden. “It shows that our message and mission resonate around the world.”
By Travellers, For Travellers
CABINZERO began as a deeply personal project. Our founder and CEO, Neil Varden, first had the idea during three backpacking trips across India, each of which ended in a broken—and progressively smaller—backpack.
A few years later, he faced a life-altering challenge: a cancer diagnosis, with less than a 50% chance of survival.
Surviving it reshaped his outlook and sparked the decision to leave behind a corporate career and pursue something with meaning.
In 2010, spotting a clear gap in the market for durable, cabin-sized backpacks that balanced minimalist design with practical features, CabinZero was launched. The brand has since grown from an idea into a globally respected name in travel gear.
“This award is deeply meaningful, not just for the company but for me personally,” said Varden. “CabinZero started as a response to frustration—but it became my way of building something with purpose, after facing some of the hardest challenges life could throw at me. To now be recognised with the King’s Award is an emotional milestone, and I’m so proud of the team that helped get us here.”
Flying the Flag for International Trade
From our humble beginnings in Leicester, we've grown into a globally recognised brand, now offering our hassle-free travel gear to adventurous spirits in over 50 countries, at over 1,500 points of sale worldwide, with e-commerce extending our reach to dozens more.
This award is a testament to our outstanding growth in overseas sales. In our most recently published FY2023 accounts, CABINZERO reported an EBITDA margin of 23%.
CabinZero backpacks have helped millions and millions of international travellers avoid the hassle of baggage fees and travel without limit. Look closely at any airport or city street, and chances are, you’ll spot a CabinZero on someone’s back.
Our Global Community Made This Possible
Your unwavering support made this incredible journey possible.
We extend heartfelt thanks to our lovely customers, dedicated team, valued retailers, influencers, and everyone who has supported us along the way. Your encouragement, trust, and collaboration have truly made this achievement possible.
Thank you for being part of our journey. If you’d like to learn more, don’t hesitate to find your nearest store or contact us at support@cabinzero.com. We are happy to help you find your perfect fit.