An entrepreneur who was the youngest to receive the backing of TV Dragons Duncan Bannatyne and Peter Jones has retained a breakthrough deal with a major retailer.
Kirsty Henshaw, who founded "free-from" food brand Kristy's, has created 18 new jobs at her Harrogate-based firm. The expansion follows the involvement of the European Regional Development Fund-backed Manufacturing Growth Programme which has part-funded an environmental audit and consultancy to help the firm plan a transition to Net Zero.
The move - which is a key requirement of the retailer customer - has also safeguarded 68 existing jobs at the business, which was started after Ms Henshaw's son Jacob was found to have a nut allergy and gluten and dairy intolerances.
Read more: East Yorkshire business park owner sets sights on expansion with plan to double footprint
The entrepreneur launched the business as a free-from ice cream brand, selling to health food shops across the UK, before featuring on BBC's Dragons' Den in 2010. It has since grown to supply ready meals from its Springfield Business Park factory and frozen pizzas and frozen desserts through co-manufacturing agreements.
Natalie Parker, marketing director for Kirsty’s, said: "Our retail customer announced in January this year that it wanted all suppliers to have a plan in place by the end of the year to get to Net Zero by 2050. We’ve only been manufacturing our own products in Harrogate for two years, so as a small SME this was a massive challenge, and we needed some external assistance."
She added: "This is where the Manufacturing Growth Programme came into play and we found the adviser very easy to work with, very understanding of the challenges of our business and very keen to put us in touch with experts and funding that made a real difference."
The Oxford Innovation Advice-run Manufacturing Growth Programme has secured nearly £15m in grants for 4,300 firms during the last three years. As ERDF funds are phased out, the programme's administrators hope alternative funding can be found via the Shared Prosperity Fund to avert an end to the scheme in 2023.
Shaughan Farrow, manufacturing growth manager for MGP, said: "The Covid-19 pandemic impacted many businesses across the UK, but Kirsty’s was still able to grow its turnover by more than 11%. Bearing in mind she set up her business with the remnants from her student loan, when Kirsty Henshaw says she has set her sights on reaching a turnover of £25m within the next three years, we can genuinely see that happening.
“This business is a success story for other budding entrepreneurs, recognising a need in the market based on a personal situation, having an idea, and having the guts to go for it! It also shows that fast-growing companies need expert support at certain parts of the journey and, by accessing Manufacturing Growth Programme funding and advice, it has secured a major retail contract that has given it the platform to grow and create 18 new jobs."
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