Gourmet delivery service Farmyard Frozen hits ‘game-changing’ crowd raise

Food delivery service Farmyard Frozen closed a “game-changing” crowdfunding target on Monday as it looks to expand its gourmet prepared meals across the UK.

It raised £78k to broaden its marketing reach in a fundraising round that valued the company at £3.5m.

The business cropped up during lockdown in 2021 when the owners’ restaurant in Norwich began selling frozen meals online.

It said it was targeting “cash-rich, time-poor foodies” by trying to “bridge the gap between the convenience of takeaway and the quality of fine dining”.

Co-founder Hannah Springham said reaching the crowdfunding target this week was “game-changing” and would enable the business to start the journey towards becoming a household name.

“We have very ambitious plans for growth which involve not only a digital marketing push to drive DTC sales, but also strategic high-end retail partnerships, event collaborations with the likes of BMW, Jo Malone and Barclays Wealth Management.”

The cash raised will be spent on a strategic and targeted digital marketing push on Meta and Google.

Its online menu includes wagyu beef wellington, lobster thermidor mac & cheese, and a twice-baked cheese soufflé.

Norfolk department store chain Jarrolds invested in Farmyard Frozen as part of the round.

The brand staged a shop floor takeover in the Jarrolds Food Hall in September to promote its products and the crowdfunding campaign.

“We love the Farmyard Frozen brand because [co-founder] Andrew [Jones] and Hannah share so many of the same values as Jarrolds when it comes to creating exceptional products and wonderful experiences for customers,” said Jarrold Group CEO Steven-Jones.

“Like us, they are ambitious and excited by the prospect of growth and moving into new areas.”