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.

London-based bakery, Orée, has raised £425,000 through Angel Investment Network (AIN) the UK’s largest online platform connecting angel investors with startup businesses.

A new senior executive leadership team has been put in place at Montezuma’s following investment from Edinburgh-based private equity firm, Inverleith LLP, last year.

Ocado has announced a £17 million investment into the vertical farming industry, including an investment into Jones Food, Europe’s largest vertical farm. The investment into Jones Food, represents one of the largest investments into a UK agritech company so far this year. Law firm, Ashfords, advised Guinness Asset Management, the majority shareholder of Jones Food, in the transaction.

Tonkotsu, the Emma Reynolds and Ken Yamada-founded ramen restaurant group plans expansion after partnering with investment firm YFM Equity Partners.  The group, which is led by Managing Director, Stephen Evans, operates nine restaurants in London and one in Selfridges Birmingham, with two more due to open later this year in Peckham and Shoreditch.

Reynolds and Yamada continue to be involved in the business, and Yamada says: “This partnership will allow us to grow our business, enabling us to open a handful more Tonkotsus. Our commitment to the quality of our food, our homemade noodles and the way we treat our people, who are the heart of this business, has been fundamental from day one. We chose YFM as our partner as we felt they shared our ambition to grow the business in the right way to maintain the culture and the brand”

Digital livestock production, smart plants and 24/7 indoor salad production are some of the ways the digital revolution is driving rapid growth in the agri-tech sector. Start-ups 30MHZ, Breedr and LettUs Grow are part of a new breed of technology companies aiming to improve productivity and sustainability in agriculture, but they will be quick to stress at CWIC 2019 that domain knowledge has been essential for success. They are presenting in the Agriculture track of the conference, hosted by Agri-Tech East and Allia Serious Impact.

Foresight Group has invested £500,000 into Oomf Limited through the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (“MEIF”). 

Originally based in Dorset, Oomf recently opened a new manufacturing site in Northampton, hiring several staff from the area. A premium high protein porridge brand, Oomf has two core product ranges, Protein Oats and Skinny Oats, which are currently sold through several major retail outlets including Sainsbury’s and Tesco.

Award winning patisserie business La Crème Patisserie has acquired new premises near Newport following a £500,000 loan from the Development Bank of Wales.

The move into the 11,000 sq ft building, which is eight times larger than La Crème’s base at Baglan, comes as the company gears up for a new contract. They will be supplying cakes, desserts and afternoon teas to the new International Convention Centre Wales (ICCW) currently being built at the Celtic Manor Resort just outside Newport.

The investment by the development bank has already led to four new jobs being created, and the headcount is expected to be further increased to 30 over the next 6-18 months.

Private investment and alternative finance specialist IW Capital announces a £1.83 million loan for Inglenook Inns and Taverns Limited. The loan represents the latest funding round for Inglenook to help grow and consolidate its regional presence across the North West of England.

How and what we eat in restaurants or on-the-go is changing thanks to new robotics startup Karakuri and its £7 million seed investment, led by Ocado.  With growing demand for personalised nutrition as part of a healthy lifestyle, Karakuri uses the latest innovation in robotics, machine learning, optics and sensors to allow restaurants and food retailers to offer personalised, freshly prepared, high quality meals, which maximise nutritional benefits and minimise food waste.

With a line-up intent on shaking up the shopping basket, The Seed Fund has announced its Class of 2019, revealing the 14 food and drink start-ups that have been invited to join its summer Academy. Now in its seventh year, the philanthropic organisation will unite these ambitious entrepreneurs with top mentors from across the industry, during an intensive programme designed to transform big ideas into big business.