Food & Cooking Ingredients
NATURE OF BUSINESS | Food and cooking ingredients |
STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT | Established |
INVESTMENT BEING SOUGHT | Up to £50,000 package (some of this could be lease finance) |
20% EIS TAX RELIEF POTENTIALLY AVAILABLE | Yes |
PREPARED TO HAVE MULTIPLE INVESTORS | Yes |
EQUITY STAKE | Realistic |
INVESTOR PARTICIPATION | Yes. Non-exec or part-time. |
MANAGERIAL SKILLS SOUGHT | Strategic (business development) and/or financial |
LOCATION | Birmingham base |
The company develops and manufactures ethnic food and cooking ingredients under its recognised brand. It already sells direct to retailers and through wholesalers both in the UK and Continental Europe (40% exports), significantly in France and the Netherlands.
The growth of the market is fuelled by a number of factors that make it robust and flexible. Just visit Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's, M&S, and Waitrose etc to see how they are diversifying and differentiating their food offerings. Our products are attracting keen interest from buyers because our part of the World is badly under-represented on their shelves, and we can therefore create new customer interest (extra sales). Trends towards healthy eating and vegetarian food are also beneficial: our products are not particularly expensive, yet they are natural and healthy, with no colouring, preservative or salt added, and low-fat meals provide an entry point for ethnic foods.
The company is relatively young and is still expanding its product range from modest beginnings. In response to market demand it will over the coming months launch a flow of complementary products that will meet that demand and which - very importantly - will exploit its existing routes to market. The funding need is driven by growth: faster equipment and more working capital.
Existing management is spread thin, but is more than capable of leading on product development, sales/marketing and production, but to assist the company's expansion we would welcome non-exec or part-time input from investors who can bring a more broadly-based commercial experience that will guide the company's expansion and growth.
Further information: Harry Stott, University of Warwick Science Park Limited
024 7632 3123 or capital@uwsp.co.uk
Investment in new business carries high risks as well as the possibility of high rewards. It is highly speculative and potential investors should be aware that no established market exists for the trading of shares in private companies. Before investing in a project about which information is given, potential investors are strongly advised to take advice from a person authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 ("FSMA") who specialises in advising on investments of this kind. The University of Warwick Science Park Limited ("UWSP") is not authorised to arrange transactions or circulate offer documents under FSMA and cannot advise on the merits or risks of investment.