UK’s Mission Ventures and Warburtons launch Batch Ventures to support bakery businesses

Batch Ventures combines equity funding together with hands-on advice from the business accelerator and the UK bakery giant

Mission Ventures, the accelerator behind the Good Food Fund, and Warburtons, the UK’s biggest bakery brand, have launched Batch Ventures, a joint venture to support businesses producing innovative bakery-led products.

Batch Ventures has been designed to support the growth of SMEs and start-ups in the bakery category. The business accelerator combines equity funding together with hands-on advice and support from successful entrepreneurs and industry professionals.

“As a fifth-generation family business, we are proud to be backing British enterprise during these uncertain times,” said Jonathan Warburton. “This programme allows us to support the next generation of innovative bakery-led brands.”

The partners are looking for businesses that incorporate baking in their production process, from traditional baked goods, such as bread, crackers and biscuits to cookie dough, baking kits and baked snacks.

“We’re really excited to work closely with a respected and established brand like Warburtons,” said John Stapleton, director of Mission Ventures. “At Mission Ventures our mantra is ‘by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs’, and in this venture, we have the opportunity to marry this experience with those of our new partner of significant longevity and industry reach.”

“We see this as a smart way for the industry to build compelling challenger brands that deliver true innovation,” said Paddy Willis, chief executive of Mission Ventures.

Willis said this partnership leverages the team’s experience as exited food entrepreneurs and six years of running food and drink accelerator programmes together with the depth of industry experience that comes from Warburtons.

Brand owners are invited to express their interest via the Mission Ventures website, with an initial selection expected over the summer.

Mission Ventures and Warburton expect that up to five businesses will be selected over the first twelve months.

Successful applicants will be judged on their growth potential.