Kirsty’s Secures £2m Investment to Fuel Expansion and Innovation
Harrogate-based Kirsty’s, renowned for its ‘free from’ range of ready meals, has successfully secured a £2 million investment from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II) – Mercia Equity Finance.
This significant financial boost is set to propel the company’s expansion, enabling the launch of new ‘food to go’ ranges and the development of additional innovative products.
Founded in 2009 by Kirsty Henshaw, Kirsty’s was born out of necessity when her son Jacob was diagnosed with multiple food allergies, including nuts, and dairy intolerance. Frustrated by the lack of healthy and tasty food options, Kirsty began experimenting with recipes in her kitchen.
Initially, she sold small batches of ice cream to local health food stores, but her products quickly gained popularity, attracting the attention of major retailers like Tesco. In 2010, Kirsty took her business to Dragon’s Den, securing £65,000 in backing from investors Peter Jones and Duncan Bannatyne for a 30% stake in her company.
By 2012, after successfully launching her meals into supermarkets nationwide, she bought back the investors’ shares, gaining full control of her business.
In 2020, Kirsty’s opened a state-of-the-art, 100 percent allergen-free factory in Harrogate, consolidating all its manufacturing operations in-house. This move ensured that the company’s products remained safe for consumers with allergies, bolstering its reputation for quality and safety.
Today, Kirsty’s supplies all major UK supermarkets, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, and Morrisons, and continues to grow its presence in the competitive ready-meal market.
The recent £2 million investment from NPIF II is expected to create 15 new jobs within the next six months, expanding the company’s workforce to 70 employees. This growth is pivotal as Kirsty’s scales up production to meet increasing demand.
Kirsty expressed her excitement about the funding, emphasising the importance of fresh, home-cooked food. She acknowledged the challenges faced by those with allergies in preparing meals from scratch and highlighted her company’s mission to provide healthy, convenient food options for everyone.
She expressed that nothing beats fresh, home-cooked food, but with modern life being busier than ever, she knows that’s not always achievable, especially for those with allergies who have to prepare everything from scratch.
Therefore, they set out to create a range of healthy, convenience foods that everyone could enjoy whether they have an allergy or not. This funding will also enable the company to take the business to a new level and fulfil its true potential, attributing the company’s current success to its dedicated and hardworking team.
A spokesperson for Mercia Ventures praised Kirsty’s leadership, describing her as an incredible founder with a deep passion, an unstoppable drive, and an infectious personality. They commended her for building a strong brand and a great team, positioning Kirsty’s for future growth.
As the population becomes more aware of what they consume, and with busy lives and more dual-income households, Kirsty’s is poised to truly lead the healthy convenience and allergen-free sectors.
Furthermore, they also highlighted the company’s strong relationships with major UK retailers and an exciting roadmap of new products, indicating a promising growth trajectory.
In conclusion, the £2 million investment marks a significant milestone for Kirsty’s, paving the way for expansion and innovation in the healthy convenience food sector. With a dedicated founder, a robust team, and strong industry partnerships, Kirsty’s is well-positioned to continue its growth journey, offering healthy, allergen-free meal options to an ever-expanding market.
Finally, this investment not only underscores the company’s past success but also fuels its ambitious vision for the future, promising exciting developments for consumers and stakeholders alike.
News Credits: ‘Free from’ food brand secures £2m
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