A food tech start-up, which offers higher prices to producers and links consumers with local produce, has won a £2.1 million contract to supply schools across the South West.
The three-year arrangement with Bath and North East Somerset Council will see the company, Fresh-Range, deliver fresh food to more than 40 schools.
During the last academic year the service deliveredenough produce to cook 1.4 million meals at school kitchens across the South West.
Two major universities in the area are also sourcing local produce through Fresh-Range, serving approximately 50,000 staff and students with fresh produce from local farmers, makers and bakers.
Following the success of a recent crowdfunding campaign, which saw the company reach its minimum investment target of £300,000 in just 24 hours, Fresh-range has now increased its target to £550,000 – for nearly 15 per cent equity in the company.
Investors can add to the total, which had reached just under £435,000 at the time of writing, through the firm’s seedrs crowdfunding page, which will stay open until 20 September.
The company sources directly from a range of local producers as well as through Bristol wholesale market and claims to match or undercut the prices of multiple retailers on some products.
