Funding gives sauce maker recipe for growth

A family-run food manufacturer is spicing up its growth plans after securing six-figure backing to expand production and create eight jobs.

Founded by brothers Ali and Mohammed Zaman in 2022, East at Home produces fresh sauces, ingredients and cooking kits designed to recreate British Indian restaurant-style meals at home.

The Stockport-founded company has secured investment from NPIF II – FW Capital Debt Finance, managed by FW Capital as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II.

Funding has supported the fit-out of a purpose-built production and warehouse facility in Ashton-under-Lyne, where the business has relocated from its previous Stockport site.

The move will also significantly increase manufacturing capacity and create eight jobs as East at Home, which has recorded almost 100 per cent year-on-year growth since launch, looks to meet rising national demand and double its turnover over the next year.

Ali said: “This funding and our new facility represents a significant step forward for our family business. 

“We’ve always believed that everyone should be able to experience authentic, chef-crafted restaurant standard Indian food at home. 

“This expansion gives us the infrastructure we need to grow while staying true to the fresh, uncompromising quality our customers love. 

“We’ve been cooking Indian food for over 30 years and every product is meticulously crafted from scratch by experienced chefs with decades of professional kitchen experience behind them.

“The investment from FW Capital has given us the boost we needed to scale up our operations and positions us in a strong position to double our turnover in the next year. 

“We also have plans to expand into retail and this funding gives us the confidence to drive forward and meet our growth ambitions.”

NPIF II – FW Capital Debt Finance provides loans to businesses across the North West, including Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire and Merseyside.

Barry Wilson, investment executive at FW Capital, added: "East at Home is a fantastic example of a successful business that is enjoying fast growth and has firm plans to continue this trajectory. 

“They manufacture everything on site at their new production facility in Ashton-Under-Lyne and then sell direct to customers, bringing restaurant quality food to homes across the UK. 

“It’s a great family-run business success story. 

“Thanks also go to Mark Renshaw from Access2 Finance who introduced me to Ali and Mohammed, and Mark Faulkner at NatWest who we worked jointly with us on funding East at Home’s growth plans.”

The £660 million Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II) fund, operated by British Business Bank, provides loans from £25,000 to £2 million and equity investment up to £5 million to help small and medium-sized businesses.

Sue Barnard, senior investment manager at British Business Bank, added: “East at Home is a strong example of how targeted finance can help an ambitious manufacturing business invest in new facilities, increase production capacity and respond to growing customer demand. 

“The company’s expansion will create new jobs and contribute to wider economic growth across Greater Manchester. 

“It has also been a pleasure to work with the GM Growth Hub, whose support for local businesses plays an important role in helping them realise their growth ambitions.”

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