Hamper business started in a spare bedroom secures six-figure funding
A Hull family business which provides hampers for clients including Jaguar Landrover, EE and ITV is set to double its capacity.
This follows a £277,000 loan from NPIF II – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia Debt as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II).
Peach Hampers provides hampers branded with clients’ logos and includes products from local artisan producers.
The business was started 12 years ago by freelance graphic designer Brendan Pallant in his spare bedroom. He now runs it with his wife Letitia from its premises on Hull’s Boulevard.
The NPIF II funding will give it additional capacity to meet growing demand. A new mezzanine floor will double space in the warehouse, providing storage for 7,500 extra hampers which can be packed in advance and ready to ship during peak times.
Meanwhile a new conveyor belt and pallet wrapping machine will allow the business to pack an additional 720 hampers per day, almost double the current rate.
The funding will also enable the company to reduce costs by bulk buying supplies in advance.
Peach Hampers serves mainly corporate clients including many well-known names, and offers hampers ranging from £30 to £500, along with vegan, gluten-free and personalised options.
The company, which delivers most of its orders in the run-up to Christmas, increased sales by around 20% during the 2024 festive period compared to the previous year.
Pallant, founder and managing director, said: “Hampers are a great way for companies to provide a thoughtful gift to staff or customers that requires minimal time and effort.
“We spotted a gap in the market for a supplier that could offer branding free of charge.
“Our business has gone from strength-to-strength but we have been missing out on valuable revenue during the peak Christmas period. The funding will enable us to overcome the constraints and move forward.”
Rebecca Pickering, of Mercia Debt, said: “Peach Hampers is a small, family-run firm that punches well above its weight and competes with big players in the market.
“The business has grown organically to this point. 2024 has been a transformational year and it is now ready to take on external funding to push it to the next stage.
“We are pleased to support Brendan and Letitia on their growth journey.”
Lizzy Upton, senior investment manager at the British Business Bank, added: “The UK gifting market is robust and Peach Hampers are capitalising on the growth in this sector, using NPIF II funding to fuel its expansion and ultimately grow its capabilities, all from its base in Hull.”
Andrew Bradley of Humber Business Growth Hub provided business and fundraising advice to the company.
