Rishi has congratulated a specialist food producer on securing a contract to supply Morrisons supermarkets with its range of gluten-free cakes.
The contract win was made possible by a £250,000 investment by the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF) which has allowed The Gluten Free Kitchen to relocate to larger premises in Leyburn and double production.
Last year’s move to a new factory on Leyburn Business Park was made possible by the NPIF. The fund was established in 2017 and delivered by the British Business Bank.
When Chancellor Rishi boosted the fund by £660m to help northern companies grow.
Rishi had introduced The Gluten Free Kitchen to the NPIF in 2023 when he was approached by the small business about sources of funding for its growth plan.
During his visit to the company’s new premises, he met directors Sue and David Fleming, their team, representatives from NPIF, and Richard Campbell of Campbells of Leyburn, a long-time stockist of the company’s products.
Rishi also learned how the business, which started on Sue’s kitchen table in Aysgarth in 2005, first supplied local independent retailers, including Campbells, before securing contracts with Ocado and Waitrose.
Rishi also tried his hand at decorating a simnel cake for the Easter market.
Rishi said: “The Gluten Free Kitchen is a fantastic example of a local business growing through hard work. I was delighted to help introduce them to Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, and it’s great to see how that support has enabled them to expand and create new opportunities. Their latest deal with Morrisons is yet another milestone in their success story.”
Rishi added: “Their success highlights the power of strategic investment and the determination of independent businesses to grow and compete on a national scale.”
Mrs Fleming said: “It was great to welcome Rishi to see the work we do at our new factory after being signposted to Northern Powerhouse Finance. Without his help, this expansion wouldn’t have been possible, and we are incredibly excited to have our products available in Morrisons, with hopefully more retailers to come.”
The Gluten Free Kitchen sells its products under the Sue’s Free From Kitchen brand. The product range includes cakes, scones and traybakes, savoury tarts and ready rolled pastry, which are free from gluten but may also be free from dairy, eggs or soya.
