Dragons’ Den rejects reach million order milestone

Online surplus food and drink retailer Approved Food is celebrating its one millionth order since the business began 12 years ago.

The Barnsley-based business was the brainchild of Dan Cluderay, a former market trader with a mission – to offer direct-to-consumer deals while preventing perfectly good food from going to waste.

Shortly after its launch, current owner Andy Needham got on board and the Approved Food journey began in earnest.

The pair were famously rejected on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den series around seven years ago but since then have gone from strength to strength.

Needham said: “We were approached by the Den producers and turned them down on several occasions before succumbing and agreeing to get involved.

“Our first mistake was approaching the show as a serious investment opportunity rather than the entertainment show we now know it is.

“Luckily, we gave them plenty of entertainment, Dan did his market pitching, I gave the anxious sweats and fluffed lines and bingo, we got 11 minutes of airtime – and luckily no offers.

“Although harrowing at the time we got a lot out of the experience. Peter Jones was extremely encouraging, he liked the business but he said it was too early for him but could be interested further down the track.”

He added the business had come a very long way since it began operating out of Cluderay’s back bedroom.

“The complexity of what we do should not be underestimated – no two orders are the same and the number and type of products in each order can differ hugely in terms of number, weight, volume, type and fragility etc.

“A massive ‘thank you’ goes out to our loyal customers and suppliers and most of all our tremendous colleagues who put a shift in every day to keep the whole machine ticking over effectively.”

350,000 customers from around the UK now regularly place an order with the business, which employs 40 people at its site in Barnsley.