Just Love Food Company

The positives of having the equity from the Development Bank of Wales is the people I’m dealing with are experts at what they do. They’re people on your side, able to give advice, ideas, and thoughts about how I can do things better, towards my vision.

Mike Woods, Managing Director

Father-of-three Mike Woods completed the management buyout of the company he set up in 2009 after two of his children were diagnosed with a severe nut allergy.

Eleven years on, Caerphilly-based Just Love Food Company provides nut-free, vegan, gluten and milk-free cakes to the ‘big four’ supermarkets: Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, and Morrisons. The company – which has a turnover of £3.8million and employs 70 people – has launched a caterpillar cake called Archie which is suitable for vegans.

Thanks to a £750,000 loan and equity funding package provided by the Development Bank of Wales, Mike, 56, has been able to buy out existing shareholders and take back control of his company, with the Development Bank taking a 30% equity stake.

 

In May 2023, Just Love Food achieved national recognition by winning the Wales Food and Drink Innovation Award at the Wales Food and Drink Awards, which were held in North Wales.

The second edition of the awards saw some of the most creative food and drink producers in Wales celebrated and recognised for the innovative work they do across the industry.

Watch our video below to find out more.