Home-cooked food platform expands
ABRISTOL-BASED tech startup described as the ‘Etsy for home-cooked food’ has launched in Bath following successful trials in its home city.
All About the Cooks allows talented cooks to sell their homemade food to people nearby via its marketplace website.
Earlier this year, the earlystage company, previously named a ‘rising star’ of the South West’s burgeoning tech sector by industry experts Tech Nation, won the backing of the world’s largest recipe platform, Cookpad, to scale its operations.
The business has now expanded its network into Bath, after users in Bristol took more than 1,000 orders and earned more than £40,000 via the platform.
All About the Cooks founder Claire Ladkin, pictured inset, said: “Bath is the perfect next city for us. It’s an area with a rich food culture, access to local produce nearby and people who care about independence and community.”
The business is aiming to continue the expansion by launching in six new cities next year. It comes after All About the Cooks raised £350,000 through a crowdfunding campaign over the summer – smashing its original target of £270,000.
Rimpei Iwata, of Japan-based firm Cookpad – whose recipe-sharing platform has 100 million users in 74 countries and multiple languages – has since become chief executive of All About the Cooks, after leading the round with a £125,000 investment. Ms Ladkin said: “Together, we also identified the need to appoint a board of directors to reassure potential investors and help bring additional expertise and accountability to the company.
“Rimpei really sees the potential of our platform. His experience is extremely valuable to us and his endorsement sends a powerful message to investors.”
All About the Cooks is currently being supported by Government innovation agency Innovate UK EDGE for its senior recruitment drive, with three new hires expected over the next year.