Tyneside-based recipe box start-up WowzaBox is gearing up for expansion after successfully raising over £170,000 through a crowdfunding campaign.
The company was founded by Newcastle University graduate Joshy Jin during the pandemic, identifying a market gap for customers craving restaurant-quality food at home during lockdown. With a team of six, they prepare all ingredients before packing and distributing them across the º£½ÇÊÓƵ, offering unique dishes such as Gong Bao Chicken, Lychee Prawns, Guizhou Hot and Sour Pork Stew, Sichuan Numbing and Spicy Beef and Xinjiang Big Plate Chicken. Over the past year, the firm has been pursuing ambitious growth plans, including launching a range for supermarkets.
Now, with the successful crowdfund, WowzaBox plans to double its workforce from six to 12, expand into new premises in Newcastle, and enhance its product offerings, including the introduction of Asian meal kits and sauces for supermarkets. In its first year, the business has already delivered over 180,000 meals across the º£½ÇÊÓƵ, achieving a turnover of more than £675,000 from September 2022 to February this year, with 81% of turnover coming from returning customers in the first quarter of this year.
The firm is set to enhance automation levels to cater to prospective supermarket clients and diversify its range with new condiments and a fusion of Asian cuisines. Mr Jin highlighted the impact of their fundraising efforts, stating: "Our crowdfunding success has been a real game changer for us, the £170,000 raised will not only allow us to enhance our current offerings but also help us introduce new products, like our dedicated range for supermarkets."
He further commented on expansion plans: "We're close to full capacity at our current site, and expanding into a larger space will be transformative. It will boost our productivity and allow us to launch a new production line for condiments - meeting growing demand and enabling further innovation.", reports .
Emphasising the company's evolving culinary horizon, he added: "While Chinese cuisine will always be at our core, we're exploring other Asian cuisines such as a fusion of flavours from South Asia, Japan, and beyond - it's an exciting time for us. As we scale, we may seek additional funding to support our ambitious growth plans, ensuring we stay on track with our goals."
