Nim’s set to double sales after Ocado deal

Kent-based Nim’s Fruit Crisps has followed up its recent listing with more than 60 Co-op stores by signing a deal for five of its original products to be available from the online supermarket.

The five lines to be sold via the retailer’s website are Apple, Pear, Pineapple, Beetroot & Parsnip and Tomato & Cucumber.

Nim’s, which produces air-dried fruit crisps from its facility in Sittingbourne, has also had its recently launched Kids range of products selected by Ocado.

Ocado, which announced a tie-up with Morrisons in 2016, posted a 13.1% rise in retail revenues, to £312.7M, for its third quarter to August 27.

Brainchild of Nimisha Raja​

Nim’s Fruit Crisps is the brainchild of Nimisha Raja, who sold her home to finance the Kent factory, which opened in 2015.

The company was a finalist in the Me and My Factory – Editor’s Choice Award, at last week’s Food Manufacture Excellence Awards (FMEAs). In 2016, it won the FMEA for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Innovation.

Following the Ocado deal, Raja said: “That’s two major breakthroughs for our brand in just two months and I’m sure this will act as a platform for further retail opportunities.”​

In September, Nim’s signed a deal to supply more than 60 Co-op stores with three of its products – Pineapple, Beetroot & Parsnip, and Tomato & Cucumber.

Handmade Speciality Products​

It has also managed to this year secure a contract with education and healthcare specialist Handmade Speciality Products – as well as variety of independent shops, online platforms and export agreements with distributors in Belgium, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy and Saudi Arabia.

Earlier this year, Food Manufacture​ visited Nim’s for a tour of the factory and to see how the novel drying technique works.

Click here for our exclusive online photogallery​ of the factory, which produces more than 12M packs of fruit crisps a year.

You can also view our exclusive video interview​ with Raja, on how winning an FMEA helped grow the reputation of her company.

Meanwhile, read how the business grew from manufacturing in Raja’s garage on weekends to processing up to 900kg of fruit a day, first published in the Me and My Factory feature​ of the May issue of Food Manufacture​ magazine.