New business aims to be toast of food and drink firms

A new business has been launched to help food and drink firms achieve maximum growth in the UK.

The Gedney Drove End-based JEPCO Group have created Jepco Solutions to provide practical help and strategic advice to both established brands and pioneering start-ups looking to scale-up their businesses across the retail, foodservice and manufacturing sectors.

Founding partner Tony Padoan said: “Within the Jepco business there is a wealth of expertise and vast experience within the food industry, so launching a solutions-based operation to support other forward-thinking and ambitious SMEs (small, medium enterprises) felt like a natural step for us.

“It is our vision to support exciting and innovative brand owners who are conscientiously investing in their businesses – utilising our knowledge, market expertise and powerful network of industry connections to drive significant results, which we hope will make a real difference.”

The company, built under the umbrella of JEPCO Group, a 100 year old, sixth generation farming business which grows and supplies high quality fresh produce to the UK’s grocery retailers and foodservice sector – aims to utilise its expertise and experience in the market to support SMEs in five main areas.

Jepco Solutions offers expertise including the improvement of manufacturing capabilities; product development and proposition in the preparation of a product for market; assisting with sales and marketing services to secure listings across the UK’s grocery and foodservice sectors as well as raising profile and awareness; providing strategic advice on unlocking investment and funding; and helping businesses improve their environmental credentials and efficiencies.

JEPCO Group managing director Stuart Piccaver said: “Our biggest asset has always been our people.

"People with passion, innovation expertise and extensive knowledge of the food and drink industry.

“The success we’ve seen and skills we’ve gained have inspired us to create the new arm to the JEPCO Group which will provide support to food entrepreneurs and SMEs who have fantastic products, are culturally aligned with us and deserve to succeed in the market.”

Jepco Solutions is currently working with a range of foodpreneurs who have innovative products to launch in the snacking, health, plant-based and allergen-free sectors.

Its partnerships include:

Green Sisters - a range of food to go, snacking and ready-meals produced to offer consumers delicious food which is free from 14 allergens.

Limeatless – an Israeli-based start-up business launching cutting-edge meat substitutes developed by food scientists to deliver on flavour and health credentials.

Little Bobby Jebb – a range of chicken crackling for snacking and crumbed for recipe inclusions, and recent winner of the 2022 Food and Drink Entrepreneur of the Year at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards.

London Falafel – an exciting food start up producing authentic falafel made with fresh ingredients, high in fibre and protein and also free from 14 allergens.

Kissd Water - sustainable and subtly flavoured natural spring water. Zero calories, zero sugar and 88% plant based and 100% recyclable packaging.