Metcalfe's Food Company

Metcalfe's Food Company was a privately owned food business founded in 2009 by Julian Metcalfe, the founder of the sandwich chain, Pret A Manger, and Robert Jakobi. Metcalfe's Food Company sold products under two brands Metcalfes Skinny and Itsu Grocery.

The company was acquired in 2024 by SpartanNash, a food solutions company.

History

Julian Metcalfe founded Metcalfe's Food in 2009 as a way to sell popcorn and healthier food snacks to food service outlets. A year later Robert Jakobi joined the company as managing director.

Robert Jakobi introduced chocolate covered edamame to the United Kingdom market in 2010 and sold them initially under his own ‘Pod bites’. He sought a bigger platform for the product and merged ‘Pod bites’ into Metcalfe's Food Company and become the managing director in October 2010.

In 2015, the company split into two brands. 'Itsu grocery' became a part of the Itsu business and Metcalfes Skinny became a standalone business.

Kettle Foods acquired a 26% interest in Metcalfe's Skinny in January 2016 and in October of that same year purchased the remaining 74%.

In April 2024, SpartanNash announced it had acquired Metcalfe's.

Recognition

In December 2013, Metcalfe's Food Company were featured as one of ten ‘Ones to Watch’ in the Sunday Times Fast Track 100. The Fast Track 100 ranks the fastest-growing privately owned companies in the UK.

In April 2014, Robert Jakobi along with Julian Metcalfe were named as London & South finalists for the 2014 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

In May 2014, Metcalfe's Food Company was announced as one of the winners of The Santander Breakthrough 50 Awards. The awards celebrate the UK's top 50 most exciting fast-growth companies.

In December 2014, Metcalfe's Food Company was ranked at number 4 in the Sunday Times Fast Track 100.

References

{{reflist, refs=
{{cite web , url= http://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Manufacturing/Metcalfe-s-reaches-fourth-on-Sunday-Times-Fast-Track-list , title= Metcalfe's is the fastest growing private food and drink firm , publisher= Food Manufacture , date= 2014-12-08 , accessdate= 2017-06-08 , archive-date= 5 December 2015 , archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151205133951/http://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Manufacturing/Metcalfe-s-reaches-fourth-on-Sunday-Times-Fast-Track-list , url-status= live
{{cite web, url=http://www.fasttrack.co.uk/fasttrack/leagues/ft100onestowatch.html , title=Fast Tracks Ones to Watch , publisher=Fast Track , accessdate=2017-06-08 , url-status=dead , archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322042421/http://www.fasttrack.co.uk/fasttrack/leagues/ft100onestowatch.html , archivedate=22 March 2016
{{cite web, url=http://www.fasttrack.co.uk/fasttrack/leagues/ft100programme.html , title=Fast Track 100 , publisher=Fast Track 100 , accessdate=2017-06-08 , url-status=dead , archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525034906/http://www.fasttrack.co.uk/fasttrack/leagues/ft100programme.html , archivedate=25 May 2011
{{cite web , url=http://www.ey.com/UK/en/Newsroom/News-releases/14-04-24---London-and-South-Entrepreneur-of-the-year-finalists-announced , title=Dynamic London and South entrepreneurs create 24,000 jobs and turn over £4.6 million , publisher=Ernst & Young , date=2014-04-24 , accessdate=2017-06-08 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225219/http://www.ey.com/UK/en/Newsroom/News-releases/14-04-24---London-and-South-Entrepreneur-of-the-year-finalists-announced , archive-date=3 March 2016 , url-status=dead , df=dmy-all
{{cite web, url=http://breakthrough50.smarta.com/metcalfes-food-company/ , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813050406/http://breakthrough50.smarta.com/metcalfes-food-company/ , url-status=dead , archive-date=2014-08-13 , title=Metcalfe's Food Company Breakthrough 50 Awards , publisher=Breakthrough 50 , accessdate=2017-06-08
{{cite web, url=http://www.fasttrack.co.uk/fasttrack/leagues/dbfastDetails.asp?siteID=1&compID=3863&yr=2014 , title=Fast Track 100 , publisher=Fast Track 100 , accessdate=2017-06-08 , url-status=dead , archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002013/http://www.fasttrack.co.uk/fasttrack/leagues/dbfastDetails.asp?siteID=1&compID=3863&yr=2014 , archivedate=4 March 2016
{{Cite web , title=Itsu founder nurtures a new generation , url=https://www.ft.com/content/1c5e2dc4-81be-11e3-a600-00144feab7de , access-date=2024-02-10 , website=www.ft.com , archive-date=8 October 2023 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008030222/https://www.ft.com/content/1c5e2dc4-81be-11e3-a600-00144feab7de , url-status=live
{{Cite web , date=2014-04-01 , title=Robert Jakobi MD of Metcalfe's Food talks to The Startup Magazine {{! The Startup Magazine , url=http://thestartupmagazine.co.uk/robert-jakobi-founder-metcalfes-food-talks-startup-magazine/ , access-date=2024-02-10 , archive-date=1 April 2014 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140401170939/http://thestartupmagazine.co.uk/robert-jakobi-founder-metcalfes-food-talks-startup-magazine/ , url-status=bot: unknown
{{Cite web , date=2012-04-12 , title=Cinema-goers snap up snack beans , url=https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/cinemagoers-snap-up-snack-beans-6787332.html , access-date=2024-02-10 , website=Evening Standard , language=en
{{Cite web , title=Kettle Foods acquires 74% of Metcalfe’s to take full control - Finance Monthly {{! Personal Finance. Money. Investing , url=https://www.finance-monthly.com/2016/10/kettle-foods-acquires-74-of-metcalfes-to-take-full-control/ , access-date=2024-09-12 , website=www.finance-monthly.com/ , language=en-GB
{{Cite web , title=SpartanNash acquires Metcalfe’s Market , url=https://www.grocerydive.com/news/spartannash-acquires-metcalfes-market-grocer/713193/ , access-date=2024-09-12 , website=Grocery Dive , language=en-US

External links

Vegan Indian Food

Snack food manufacturers of the United Kingdom
Food and drink companies established in 2010
Food and drink companies disestablished in 2016
2010 establishments in England
2016 disestablishments in England