Gousto has raised £9m from investors to fund the expansion of its London-based meal-box delivery service, which currently has 140 staff.
Gousto was started in 2011 by two friends, James Carter and Timo Schmidt (pictured). The business partners came up with the idea when trying to overcome the everyday issue of how to cook good meals without all the hassle, additives, food waste and compromising on quality.
Having successfully trialled selling recipes in exact portions at a market stall, Carter and Schmidt sought investment to take their organic ingredient boxes online and fast track the business.
In March 2013, the British Business Bank invested £120,000 in the company via the Angel CoFund. With additional funding from a group of private angel investors, Gousto received a total of £250k investment. This enabled the company to build a talented core team and start operating as a business.
Current recipe boxes include Aubergine & Harissa Stew, Herby Pistachio Chicken, and Asian Fish Nuggets.