Parsley Box chief paid salary of £225,000

THE chief executive of Parsley Box was paid more than £200,000 during a tumultuous year that saw the firm float on the stock market before being confronted by supply-chain disruption and labour shortages.

Scottish entrepreneur Kevin Dorren, who joined the ready-meal delivery business in 2019, received a salary of £225,000 in 2021, according to the company’s annual report, published yesterday. The company plans to introduce a bonus scheme for this year and beyond.

Parsley Box, which targets the Baby Boomer generation, saw demand for its meals soar after the country was put into lockdown 2020, and was valued at £84m when it floated in March last year. But in the second half it struggled with supplychain disruption and staff shortages, leading it to cut back on marketing spend and narrow its range to focus on core customers.

Last month, the company reported losses had widened to £9.7m in the year ended December 31 from £3.2m in 2020, though turnover grew by 4% to £25.5m. Mr Dorren said the business had “stabilised” since yearend, helped by a £6m cash injection from investors.