Healthy food chain The Naked Deli flies high with deal to open Glasgow Airport outlet

The growing clean eating company was approached by the airport after seeing the success of the concept at Newcastle Airport

Bookmark
Share
Comments

Coreena FordChronicle and Journal business writer

11:37, 5 AUG 2019

(L-R) Naked Deli founder Kirstie Dunn, Muckle solicitor Claire Willcock, Muckle associate Matthew Walsh, Tait Walker partne Chris McCourt, The Naked Deli founder Ian Jones (front), John Cordrey from Foresight Group, The Naked Deli founder Chris Jones, financial director Nick Dogget, and chairman John Upton (Image: Mike Smith Photography)

North East healthy food chain The Naked Deli is flying high after signing a deal to open in a second airport – and more are set to follow.

The clean eating chain was first formed in 2014, selling its range of juices, superfood salads, sandwiches and raw vegan cakes from a cafe in Heaton.

Demand from customers led to further openings in the former Post Office in Gosforth Shopping Centre, in Fenwick Food Hall, Grey Street, after securing £2.5m investment from Foresight Group, a a leading investor in small growth companies, helping them scale across the ��Ƶ and internationally.

Last August the Newcastle business opened its first airport outlet at Newcastle International Airport, a strategic move which has raised awareness of the brand with travellers using the transport hub from all over the world.

Left to right:The Naked Deli team Sandra Contreras, manager, Joe Emmerson, training manager and Kirstie Kimmins, director — The Naked Deli opened at Newcastle Airport last summer. Left to right, The Naked Deli team Sandra Contreras, manager, Joe Emmerson, training manager and Kirstie Kimmins, director (Image: The Naked Deli)

The firm’s founder and director Kirstie Kimmins has now revealed a second transport hub store will open next month at Glasgow Airport, and that further airport deals could soon be announced.

The deal follows a successful 12 months of trading for The Naked Deli at Newcastle Airport, which attracted attention from the commercial team in Glasgow.

Ms Kimmins said: “It’s been 12 months since we opened at Newcastle and it’s been a real success, and Glasgow airport got in touch saying they liked the concept.

“There’s been a lot of bad press recently about unhealthy food on offer at a number of airports, but Newcastle is proving that you can have healthy, fresh and nutritious before before you fly, and to take on flights too.

Food at The Naked Deli Newcastle (Image: The Naked Deli)

“The plan has never been to go from Newcastle to Glasgow - we were looking to fill the gaps in between first - and I don’t want people to think we’re not looking to expand in the North East because we are, and we have plans here that we can’t reveal yet. This was an opportunity we couldn’t turn down though.

“The passenger numbers at Glasgow are huge so we’ll likely treble what we’re making at Newcastle.

“And this won’t be the last airport deal. I think it’s safe to say there’s more airport deals coming.”

Around 11 jobs will be created through the new opening – both at the central base where food is made in Gosforth and at the airport itself – taking the total workforce to 66.

Some £80,000 is being invested at the airport and it’s hoped it will open in the first week of September.

More North East news

Ms Kimmins added: “Airports are a captive audience and The Naked Deli has done brilliantly in Newcastle. It’s not just passengers who want our food either. I’ve got great photos of cabin crew and pilots queueing for food to take on planes.

“I have to say that this opportunity at Glasgow and for more expansion wouldn’t have happened in the first place if it wasn’t for the commercial team at Newcastle who have ben absolutely incredible, helping an independent firm come in alongside national names.”