Jam today for start-up thanks to six-figure fundraise

North Yorkshire-based healthier jam start-up, Fearne & Rosie, has secured £450,000 to support the next stage of its development and take its reduced sugar jam offering mainstream.

The fundraise will be deployed to help grow the company’s team, invest in product innovation and marketing, as well as build retail distribution.

The investment round comprises core investor TwinklHive, the investment arm of Twinkl, a provider of education resources, alongside a number of other key investors.

Launched in 2019, the business is on a mission to provide healthier jam alternatives to families across the UK.

Each jar is made up of 70% fruit and 40% less sugar than an average jar of jam. The jams are designed to help families make healthier choices and reduce unnecessary sugar intake, without compromising on taste or quality.

The business is on track to hit £5m turnover by 2025. Its products can be found in Waitrose, with recent listings secured in Amazon, Booths and select Morrisons stores.

Founder Rachel Kettlewell said: “With obesity rates in both reception-aged and year six school children showing the highest annual rise since the National Child Measurement Programme began, something needs to be done to turn the tide.

“Offering families healthier alternatives is a must. As the only challenger healthier family jam brand, Fearne & Rosie is in a unique position to try and effect change.

“This fundraise will help us achieve our goal of nationwide distribution of Fearne & Rosie jams across key channels, retailers and schools, as well as begin to build a targeted school support programme.

“I’m pleased to have the backing of such amazing investors. I’m excited to be working with them on driving the strategic development of Fearne & Rosie, helping propel the business from challenger brand into the nation’s favourite jam brand.”

Jonathan Seaton, co-founder and CEO of Twinkl and Director of TwinklHive, added: “We are delighted to be supporting Rachel and Fearne & Rosie with their funding round as they look to provide a healthier option for families.

“Rachel’s hard work and passion is clear and we are excited to see how the business will grow over the next 12 months.”

Support for Kettlewell’s raise also came from female-focused angel investment community, Obu.

Obu’s co-founders, Sarah King and Claire Dunn, said: “Rachel’s start-up story inspired us and the Obu community from the start.

“Fearne & Rosie is a great example of a purpose-led, innovative, commercially strong female-founded business – the type of business that, as we increase the number of diverse angel investors in the UK, has an opportunity to really flourish and grow.”

Serial FMCG entrepreneur and investor in Fearne & Rosie, Giles Brook added: “I’m happy to be helping Rachel shape the future of healthy spreads through Fearne & Rosie, bringing incredible taste and health in unison through her HFSS compliant, more fruit, less sugar, family focused proposition.

“Performance is already well ahead of buyers’ expectations, which makes this even more exciting as a B Corp insurgent brand.”