Grab-and-go soup brand ReNourish has secured a £2m investment as part of global growth ambitions.
It comes after the business, which claims its patented microwaveable bottled soup as a world first, enjoyed rapid growth throughout the pandemic as consumers stocked up cupboards and also turned to healthier products.
The series A funding round – led by early-stage investor Doehler Ventures and two private family offices – will be used to spearhead the latest launches into the Middle East, Far East and other territories.
In addition to launching globally, the challenger brand is driving growth into major UK retailers and the foodservice channel, supplying universities and the NHS.
ReNourish was stocked nationwide by Waitrose when founder Nicci Clark launched the brand in 2019, and is also now available with Ocado, Amazon, Co-op, Whole Foods and Planet Organic, as well as its own DTC site.
“We are committed to revolutionising the soup category and genuinely game-changing product innovation, distributed in the right channels, sits at the heart of our mission,” Clark said.
“Investment is key to achieving our goal of step-changing soup, enabling us to take ReNourish to new audiences across the UK and the world. We want people to see what soup can really be: plant-based, healthy, no hidden nasties and all-round badass goodness.”
The £2m investment builds on a prior funding round in September 2020, which raised £800,000 to put towards maintaining the momentum built in the early stages of the pandemic.
ReNourish is one of the fastest-growing brands in the fresh soup category, racking up almost £1m in retail sales from a standing start in 2020, according the Grocer’s annual Top Products Survey.
The company capitalised on booming consumer demand for food products with immunity-boosting credentials.
“People lead busy lives and that’s why I wanted to make something that enables them to get the nutrients they need in a way that slots seamlessly into their schedules,” Clark added.
“While life may have slowed down over the past year due to Covid-19, it’s all the more important to have vitamin-boosting foods, as well as packaging that means you can avoid using the bowls and spoons at work when you go back to the office.”
She said: “With the help of Doehler Ventures and the private investment angels, we’re building an exciting pipeline of activity.
“The significant investment we’ve secured in ReNourish to date is testament to the strength of our brand. Our intention is to make ReNourish the first fresh, globally recognised soup brand, and that requires being bold, disruptive and challenging. That’s exactly what we’ll continue to be.”
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