Vegan ice cream makers in the North East are creating a new manufacturing site after securing a £400,000 investment.
Joseph Eyre and Amber Fox-Eyre set up Beau’s in Peterlee, County Durham, three years ago and launched a mission to prove that plant-based ice cream tastes better than dairy-based alternatives.
The firm’s gelato - which has received multiple Great Taste Awards - contains only natural, whole-food ingredients such as cashews and fresh lemon juice and has flavours including raspberry, ice cream cup cake, pistachio and coffee, crafted with no artificial flavours.
Now the firm has secured £400,000 investment as it looks to build on the brand and create a new manufacturing facility in the North East.
After an initial round of investment in 2019 that allowed it to scale up itscapabilities, Beau’s has secured additional funding from a group of investors including the TRICAP Group and venture capital firms Dismatrix and Northstar Ventures Limited, with funding from the North East Innovation Fund.
Part of the investment will be used to create a fully vegan ice cream manufacturing facility in County Durham.
The company currently has a shortlist of sites in the county and plans to move into the chosen site as soon as it can, greatly boosting Beau’s production capabilities and allowing the company to seek a wider range of market opportunities, including white label manufacturing for other retailers.
So far, the investment has led to the creation of five new jobs, taking the team to seven, with five more hires anticipated this year as the company scales up.
The investment has also led to Beau’s launch of the Ƶ’s first vegan ice cream subscription service – Beau’s Pint Club – which sends subscribers a dessert box of vegan gelato, along with additional toppings cones and other extra items, direct to customers each month.
CEO Mr Eyre said that while ice-cream pint clubs are a relatively unknown concept here in the Ƶ, they are a tried-and-tested staple in the US - and the rapid rise of online shopping and subscription services in lockdown leads the firm’s confidence that the model will appeal to Ƶ customers.
Veganism is also on the rise – more than 600,000 people in the Ƶ consider themselves to be vegan and around 125,000 signed up to try a vegan diet during this year’s Veganuary campaign – Beau’s is also tapping into a rapidly expanding market.
Mr Eyre said: “Beau’s plans are far-reaching and innovative and I’m delighted to lead such a talented team to grow the business and bring quality vegan products to the mainstream market.
“We believe that we have a product that can appeal to vegans and non-vegans alike, making it a perfect option for families with mixed dietary preferences to explore. Beau’s Pint Club is just the first step in bringing quality authentic vegan gelato to a much wider audience.
“We were clear about the investors we were looking to partner with ahead of this funding round and are delighted that they have bought into our vision and come on board with us.”
CCO Mrs Fox-Eyre said: “We believe that the ice cream typically available to Ƶ consumers could be a whole lot better. We’re looking to set a new benchmark, not just in terms of quality but also in terms of sustainable practices.”
Moray Martin, TRICAP CEO and chair of Beau’s, added: “As well as offering vegans and those with lactose intolerance a nutritionally balanced gelato of uncompromising quality, Beau’s products will appeal to the ‘traditional’ ice cream market simply because they taste very good.
"This broad appeal, alongside the company’s sustainability credentials, were recognised by investors as key success factors aimed at overcoming some of the challenges faced by retailers and across the catering sector.
"We look forward to supporting Beau’s growth and development as it begins its manufacturing ramp up and brand building phase.”
