Scratch meal kits stack up

Start-up food company Scratch has reported a surge in demand for its fresh-prepared meal kits as ice and snow force shoppers to stock up on emergency supplies.

Co-founder Farleigh Hungerford told freshinfo: “We are targeting health-conscious, busy Londoners who don’t have the time or knowledge to cook for themselves from scratch. We have sold out recently at Sourced Market in King’s Cross and at Budgens in Belsize Park in the bad weather.”

Hungerford started the company with Alex Neves and Phillip Pinnell nine months ago and the three make their meal kits, presented in a box with all the fresh, uncooked ingredients, chopped, washed and weighed with full instructions on how to cook a healthy, wholesome meal from scratch, in north Greenwich.

She said: “The idea was born out of our frustration with ready meals and microwavable convenience meals… as well as the desire… to cook fresh, healthy meals from scratch.”

Scratch offers three different meals as standard: vegetable red Thai curry, Moroccan chicken tagine and crayfish, tomato and feta pasta; as well as a monthly special. Its meals are clearly labelled with the number of portions of fruit and vegetables that count towards 5 A DAY, which is typically three per pack.

Hungerford said: “Fresh produce is very important to us. What we offer is all ready prepared and that means there is no waste.”

Produce is sourced from Lays of Chelsea at New Covent Garden Market and the single servings retail at between £4.50 and £5.