Halal Baby Food Maker for Aisha Gets £400,000 to Meet Overseas Demand

Nottinghamshire halal baby food manufacturer For Aisha Baby Foods has received a £400,000 investment to develop new product ranges and meet overseas demand.

The business is said to be the only major commercial certified brand of Halal and Tayyib baby food in the UK.

It was set up to help infants broaden their tastes when they go on to solids, with blended ingredients that include gentle spices.

It received funding from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF), provided by The FSE Group Debt Finance Fund.

It followed an initial equity investment from the MEIF East and South East Midlands Equity Fund, managed by Foresight Group.

The company, which operates out of Edwalton, on the southern outskirts of Nottingham, will use the funding to accelerate For Aisha’s expansion plans.

It means it can recruit a commercial director to develop its UK business as an immediate priority and take the brand into new overseas markets.

Another two positions are also being added to strengthen the business as it grows.

The finance will also allow it to focus on increasing stock levels to meet the current UK and overseas demand, whilst developing new products to add to the range.

Aisha executive chairwoman Joy Parkinson said: “Thanks to The FSE Group for guiding us through the funding process.

“We are really looking forward to strengthening the team, building stock which will allow us to meet both our supermarket and online shop orders.

“The funding will also enable us to conduct research to develop exciting new recipes aimed at older toddlers.

“We are really looking forward to the range extension and getting more toddlers experiencing lots of different tastes from our selection of varied meals.”

Ann Marie McFadyen, investment manager at The FSE Group, which manages the MEIF Debt Finance Fund, said: “For Aisha is an established brand with a strong existing client base.

“The range is readily available in leading supermarket chains as well as directly from their website.

“The business has the capacity to ramp up the production of their products to meet the growing demand for their brand.

“We look forward to seeing the brand go from strength to strength.”

Originally published on www.business-live.co.uk