Tasty £8.5m investment for growing fresh food retail business

An independent fresh food retail business in Yorkshire has secured an £8.5m investment to help support its expansion plans.

Keelham Farm Shop has has entered into a new partnership with Growth Partner LLP to support the expansion plans of its chief executive Victoria Robertshaw – who remains the majority shareholder of the business.

From its origins more than 40 years ago as a small, family farm and shop on the outskirts of Bradford, Keelham today is a significant business that is supporting the regional economy, farmers and producers by championing affordable, local, great tasting fresh food.

In June 2015, Keelham opened a second shop in Skipton that took fresh food retail to a new level in Yorkshire. The title-holder of more than 60 industry awards Keelham Farm Shop has helped to put the region’s foodie reputation on the national map.

Robertshaw said: “To have found a like-minded investment partner for Keelham is really important and that’s exactly what we’ve found in Growth Partner. With their support and backing we have a great opportunity to expand our vision for Keelham Farm Shop as a commercial success with a meaningful purpose.

“I’ve lost count of the times that customers have said ‘if only we had a Keelham near us’. This investment partnership will help us to take Keelham to hundreds of thousands more people, within and beyond Yorkshire, as well as online where there is really exciting potential for growth. We believe that we can improve the health and happiness of the nation through better food and this investment is the first step towards achieving our vision.”

Run by Managing Partner, Gerard Downes, North Yorkshire-based Growth Partner takes a long-term approach to investment, supporting business owners and their teams through the challenges of scaling their business. Founder Richard Harpin will offer strategic advice to the Board of Keelham Farm Shop.

Downes added: “Victoria has created a truly customer focused shopping experience, delivering high quality curated products in a welcoming and engaging environment. We think more customers will love having access to a Keelham and are delighted to support Victoria and the team to achieve this. This represents our third consecutive investment in a successful female entrepreneur led business”.

The investment in Keelham Farm Shop in Skipton and the Keelham Farm Shop brand comes on the back of the original Thornton shop changing to sole-ownership of James Robertshaw, under the new name of ‘Robertshaw’s Farm Shop’.

Lead advisors for Keelham Farm Shop were Clarion, led by Richard Moran and Rachel Dean; lead advisors for Growth Partner were Freeths, led by Andy Francey.

Santander is the firm’s new funding partner as part of its strategic growth plans. Santander was advised by Manjit Virdee, Abigail Falshaw and Kate Fox from Schofield Sweeney.