Vertical Future, a London-based food technology company, announced the completion of its Seed Round, raising £4m of equity finance, with further investment expected in the coming months. 

Grown in the capital and delivered by bicycle and electric van, the company uses technology to produce high-quality, ethical food (primarily baby leaf vegetables and herbs), in controlled environments. They also develop efficient and sustainable methods of food production and supply systems, with a long-term commitment to improving health and reducing CO2 emissions in cities.

The Midlands Engine Investment Fund Debt Finance, managed by Maven Capital Partners, has provided Lincolnshire-based, Jepco, with a £900,000 funding package, which will enable the horticulture firm to acquire the hydroponic technology and equipment needed to expand production all year round. The finance package will also create 14 new jobs in the region. This is the second MEIF loan made to the Jepco Group.

Snaffling Pig, the category leading porky snack brand, has reached its £750,000 crowdfund target in just seven days.  Hosted by Crowdcube, a total of 821 investors – or “Swine Diners” – have supported the campaign, in exchange for a 7% stake in the business. With a business plan to hit £20m sales in the next three years, a potential overfund will mean the team can bring forward their ambitious five year plan of £30m in sales. 

London-based dairy free cheese producer, Kinda Co. has been named as The Seed Fund’s 2019 champion, picking up the award at the Great Taste Golden Fork Dinner on Sunday 1 September. A one-woman enterprise, founded by Ellie Brown (pictured above) in October 2017, Kinda Co. will now embark on full year of business support and mentoring with the food and drink industry’s only philanthropic start-up accelerator.

Five-time FIA Formula One World Champion, Lewis Hamilton is collaborating with hospitality organisation The Cream Group and investors including UNICEF Ambassador and early backer of Beyond Meat, Tommaso Chiabra to revolutionise fast food when they launch exciting new concept Neat Burger, the first international, plant-based burger chain.  Opening its first site on September 2nd, Neat Burger promises to transform the way people see plant-based food by appealing not only to those who follow plantbased diets, but any individuals - meat-eaters included - who want to eat delicious, meat-free dishes that are more sustainable, healthier and ethical

A Birmingham-based wholesale supplier of quality products to the food and drink industry has secured £1.5m from MEIF Maven WM Debt Finance, part of the Midlands Engine Investment Fund.  The loan will enable Indus Foods to create manufacturing units and extend its existing warehousing to improve efficiencies. The funding will also provide investment into the company’s new production hub and support the creation of a number of jobs in the region.

MoA Technology Limited, the crop protection discovery company, has secured £6.3m ($8m) Series A round to develop its unique crop protection discovery platforms in a bid to avert the global herbicide resistance crisis.

The funding round into MoA was co-led by Oxford Sciences Innovation, the world’s largest university venture fund, and Parkwalk Advisors, the largest EIS growth fund manager focused on university spinouts. Oxford University Innovation, the University’s innovation arm, assisted in spinning the company out in 2018.

BDO LLP has advised the management team and shareholders at Sukhothai on its recent recapitalisation. Sukhothai, the Leeds-based Thai casual dining group operating under the Sukhothai and Zaap brands has used funding provided by HSBC to facilitate a partial-MBO from founders Gerrard Marks and Yupha (Ban) Kaewkraikhot by members of the current management team.

Investment manager Downing has exited from two freehold gastropub investments managed by Upham Group.

Both gastropubs – The Navigator in Swanwick and The Winning Post in Winkfield - have been acquired by Upham Group.

Downing first partnered with Upham Group in October 2015 and subsequently refurbished the gastropub locations, both of which also have letting rooms. Upham Group itself has 15 pubs located across Hampshire, Berkshire, Sussex and Wiltshire. Additionally, all of Upham’s pubs and inns feature a range of fine real ales brewed by Upham’s own brewery, also based in Hampshire. 

It’s been serving the Anglesey community delicious gelato for the past 10 years.  Now more and more locals and visitors to North Wales are going to be able to enjoy the delights from Red Boat parlour ice-cream with more retail outlets opening and a new production hub, thanks to a loan from Development Bank of Wales.

Panoramic Growth Equity, a leading equity investor in fast growing, entrepreneurial UK companies, has announced that it has invested £1.5m of growth capital into healthy snacking company Freed Foods Limited, which provides a range of premium plant based gluten-free snacks made with natural ingredients.  Founded by David Ventura and Tomas Mesa, Freed Foods brands include Mister Free’d Tortillas, a range of vegan tortilla chips with innovative flavours and carefully selected super food ingredients.

A consortium of leading scientific research and academic institutions has teamed to identify innovative solutions to tackle climate change linked to the agri-food sector.

The SHAKE Climate Change programme is specifically designed to attract entrepreneurs or start-ups who have developed early stage science or tech-based ideas that can have a significant impact on climate change, as well as form the basis of a sustainable and socially responsible business within the sector.