Ella’s Kitchen has boosted its market share in the baby food sector and notched up sales growth despite challenging conditions, newly filed accounts show.
The company makes organic meals for infants such as lamb tagine and cottage pie, as well as puddings.
Chief executive Mark Cuddigan said: “Against the backdrop of economic uncertainty, the Ella’s Kitchen team has once again delivered a set of outstanding results.”
Revenue at Henley-on-Thames-based Ella’s Kitchen (Brands) rose 18% to £85.8 million in the year to June 2022, with the UK accounting for the majority of sales.
Pre-tax profits improved to £15 million from £12.4 million at the manufacturer, which is stocked by grocers including Tesco and Waitrose.
But the premium baby food firm is not immune from current headwinds. A spokesman said: “The economic climate continues to be uncertain. The cost-of-living crisis is affecting everyone, from consumers to our partners, and the increased cost for energy and raw materials impacts the whole of our supply chain. This is something we are careful to be mindful of as we plan ahead.”
The firm was set up in 2006 by entrepreneur Paul Lindley, whose daughter is called Ella and it is today owned by New York-headquartered food company Hain Celestial Group. Ella’s Kitchen is a ‘ B Corp’, part of a scheme that offers certification of a firm’s commitment to the environment, staff and community.
Cuddigan said: “As a B-Corp, we do not judge the performance of Ella’s on financial results alone, and I am extremely proud that we continue to make business a force for good whilst being a voice for the under-fives.”
He added: “This included launching our Eat.Play.Love campaign, which calls on Government to improve early years food education to support childhood nutrition, whilst in the past year alone, we have also donated over 600,000 pouches to food banks across the UK.”
