Case Studies
A pack of Heck sausages

Heck Foods

Partner: Panoramic Growth Equity
Region: Yorkshire and Humber
Location: Bedale, North Yorkshire
Programme: Enterprise Capital Funds

Heck Foods is a family-run premium sausage maker, which was founded by Yorkshire farmers Andrew and Debbie Keeble in 2012. Heck’s brands are sold throughout the UK in Tesco, ASDA, Morrisons, Booths and Waitrose, and via its own website.

Heck needed finance to help them achieve one main objective – raising awareness of the brand among consumers. They had previously relied on their profits to fund marketing but felt they needed to put some additional firepower behind getting their message out there and building a direct relationship with their customers.

Heck recognised the benefits that external investment would bring and therefore started to look at the alternatives that might be available via the banks or private equity investors. They came across Panoramic Growth Equity, which is supported by the British Business Bank’s Enterprise Capital Funds programme, and felt they were the best fit for the company and its aims.

In September 2014, Panoramic invested £1 million of growth capital in Heck Foods . As a result, they enhanced their customer service and marketing capabilities and can afford to be more visible at shows and events. They are also engaging more with social media. Now their sales are £1.5m ahead of budget – twice as far as where they expected to be when starting the business three years ago. The critical thing is that they are making great tasting products for customers who come back to them time and time again.

Andrew Keeble, founder and MD at Heck Foods said:

“Securing the funding through the British Business Bank’s Enterprise Capital Funds programme has given our business the boost it needed to take us to the next level, whilst allowing us to remain in total control of our production process, which was fundamental to us. As a result, we have increased our profits and are able to focus on building a business of some scale.”

See more about Heck Foods in the video below:

Find out more about Heck Foods

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