Mia & Ben 2

Source: Mia & Ben

Mia & Ben raised £2.5m to grow its UK busines after securing a listing with Sainsbury’s in January

Fresh babyfood startup Mia & Ben has secured a multimillion-pound investment to help grow its UK business after a recent venture into one of the mults.

The London and Berlin-based business raised £2.5m from impact food investor Blue Horizon Ventures, the backer of Impossible Foods, Beyond Meat and Clara Foods.

Mia & Ben fresh babyfood pouches – preserved with pressure instead of heat to retain natural vitamins – launched into Sainsbury’s at the end of January and are also listed on Ocado and Abel & Cole.

The brand will use the funding to grow its business and disrupt the kids’ food category by offering fresher and more nutritious products.

Its range – including flavours such Apple & Blueberry, Banana, Mango & Pineapple, and Sweet Potato, Pear, Squash & Beetroot – is organic as well as gluten and dairy-free.

“This funding round proves that new businesses can succeed in these difficult times,” said Daniel Auner, co-founder of Mia & Ben.

“Having an investment partner like Blue Horizon Ventures will enable us to revolutionise the kids’ food category by utilising the latest in cutting-edge food science and the best ingredients we can find.”

Blue Horizon Ventures said: “We invest in entrepreneurs that are looking to disrupt their segment by launching healthy, plant-based and sustainable food.

“In Mia & Ben, we saw a company offering a product that is fresh, nutritious and offers parents a healthier alternative to traditional kids’ food, and has the option to develop into a category winner.”