High-protein gelato startup Forti has closed a pre-seed funding round to power its UK expansion ambitions.
The six-figure investment will be used to accelerate retail distribution across the UK, scale production, expand the team and develop new products.
It’s the first significant raise since Milan Nandha and Nikhil Chikhliwala soft launched the brand at the start of the year.
The pre-seed round was led by ex-professional rugby player turned entrepreneur Ollie Marchon.
Forti expects to announce listings for its Italian-style gelato, initially available in vanilla and chocolate, by the end of the summer. The brand said its product offered a significantly higher protein content than traditional ice cream, with lower sugar, and no artificial colours or flavours.
The gelato is sold in 110ml and 480ml tubs, with the former boasting 10g of protein and the bigger format having 40g.
Forti also plans to expand beyond protein to add new fortifications to its functional gelato, including fibre, vitamins, minerals and gut-health-friendly ingredients as it attempts to position itself as a better-for-you frozen dessert.
“When we started Forti, we set out to build something bigger than a protein ice cream,” Nandha said. “We wanted to create a brand that makes everyday nutrition genuinely enjoyable.
“Closing this round with Ollie is a huge moment for us. He understands our customer better than almost anyone and shares our belief that the UK is ready for a new kind of fortified food brand. This funding allows us to get Forti into many more freezers across the country and start building the product range we’ve envisioned from the start.”
Forti is currently available in selected independent retailers and gyms, with a DTC launch planned for later in the year and major grocery listings to follow.
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