Frozen meals challenger Stocked has completed a seven-figure fundraising as it gets ready to ramp up growth and fight household food waste.
Backers in the £1.3m seed round include consumer-focused investment firm Active Partners, serial fmcg investor Giles Brook, Olympic triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee and former England rugby player Will Greenwood.
The funding will support the acceleration of the brand’s retail expansion following a launch in Ocado at the end of 2024. Stocked also plans to put the cash towards upgrades at the London manufacturing site to quadruple capacity and new product development to meet increasing demand.
Founded in 2021 by Sam Moss and Charlie Gilpin, Stocked makes chef-cooked frozen meals in a signature space-saving block format designed to aid portion control and reduce food waste. Alongside the Ocado listing, the business delivers direct to consumers through a meal subscription model.
“This raise marks a huge milestone for us and allows us to continue innovating and reshaping the frozen food category, something we’re massively passionate about,” said Moss.
“Our freezers have so much potential for forward-thinking, better-for-you, better-tasting products and we’re excited to continue getting better meals onto the nation’s plates, one block at a time.”
Stocked received a publicity boost in February last year thanks to an appearance on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den, with the company receiving backing from Steven Bartlett as a result.
It now has 10,000 subscribers across the country and recently sold its 1.5 millionth meal.
Giles Brook, who backs several F&B challenger brands, including Pip & Nut, Bio&Me and Mighty Slice, added: “Retailers and consumers are waking up to potential in frozen for quality, taste and convenience. Stocked has created a format that tackles real problems – from portioning to food waste – while exceeding expectations on taste and nutrition. This is how category leaders are made.”
Five SKUs from Stocked’s range are currently listed at Ocado (rsp: £9.50 per pack), with 30 recipes available online DTC on the brand’s subscription bundles. Meals include the likes of Thai green chicken, beef chilli, pork rendang and a host of plant-based options, as well as child-friendly products and two smoothies.
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