Manufacturer and retailer of frozen ready meals, Cook is planning to invest £10m in a new ready meals development kitchen in Sittingbourne next year.
The expansion comes after a strong period for the business in the year to March 31. Sales rose 15% to £58.3m and pretax profits edged up slightly to £2.5m. During the period bestselling products included lasagne and fish pie. Vegetarian dishes were also popular.
Established in 1997, the company sources the ingredients, cooks and freezes them, packs and labels them, then transports and sells them in its 100-plus shops (over 30 of which are franchised).
The company also sells through over 400 farm shops and other independent retailers throughout the UK, and online via its website.
Cook's range of frozen meals comes in various portion sizes (typically for 1, 2 and 4). It also produces party food, cakes and puddings, low-calorie Pots for One, children’s meals and an Indian, Chinese and Thai range.
Cook also stocks a small range of specialised non-frozen goods, including pâtés, crisps, Thai crackers, mustard, and olives.