Gateshead recipe box business to launch into supermarkets after crowdfunding

Tyneside recipe box start-up is set to serve up expansion plans after raising more than £170,000 through a crowdfund campaign.

Newcastle University graduate Joshy Jin launched WowzaBox from a base on the Team Valley during the pandemic, spotting a gap in the market for customers keen to lap up restaurant-standard food at home during lockdown.

The team of six staff prepare all the ingredients before they are packed and distributed across the UK, allowing people to cook culinary delicacies that are challenging to find elsewhere in the UK – including dishes such as Gong Bao Chicken, Lychee Prawns, Guizhou Hot and Sour Pork Stew, Sichuan Numbing and Spicy Beef and Xinjiang Big Plate Chicken.

Over the last year the firm has been eyeing ambitious growth plans, including the launch of a range for supermarkets. Now WowzaBox has successfully raised £170,000 which it will use to double its workforce from six to 12, expand into new premises in Newcastle, and boost its product offerings, including the launch of Asian meal kits and sauces for supermarkets.

The business has already delivered over 180,000 meals across the UK in its first 12 months, achieving a turnover of more than £675,000 from September 2022 to February this year, with 81% of turnover coming from returning customers in the first quarter of this year.

The company also plans to introduce new levels of automation to meet the demands of potential supermarket customers, while diversifying its offerings with a new line of condiments and new fusion cuisines from other parts of Asia.

Mr Jin said: “Our crowdfunding success has been a real game changer for us, the £170,000 raised will not only allow us to enhance our current offerings but also help us introduce new products, like our dedicated range for supermarkets.

“We’re close to full capacity at our current site, and expanding into a larger space will be transformative. It will boost our productivity and allow us to launch a new production line for condiments - meeting growing demand and enabling further innovation.

“While Chinese cuisine will always be at our core, we’re exploring other Asian cuisines such as a fusion of flavours from South Asia, Japan, and beyond - it’s an exciting time for us. As we scale, we may seek additional funding to support our ambitious growth plans, ensuring we stay on track with our goals.”