Pure Grain Foods secures £40k from TV Dragons

Pure Grain owner Robert Sak accepted the investment from TV Dragon Deborah Meaden in exchange for a 20% stake in the business, televised on Sunday 11 November.

“I am absolutely delighted to be working with Deborah,” ​said Sak. “I went into the Den hoping to meet somebody with great experience in scaling the business, somebody with contacts in the market I operate in and, at the same time, someone who would recognise and share my passion and vision for the products. ​

‘Invaluable, fantastic experience’​

“It was an invaluable, fantastic experience. I was the last to go in on the day, so the waiting was probably the hardest part of it.” ​

Pure Grain joined a number of food and drink companies that Meaden has invested in during the show’s 13 years on the air, including cereal firm Spoon, ice cream and sorbet company Yee Kwan and crisp company Tag Snack Foods.

Commenting on her investment in Pure Grain, Meaden said: “The free-from and vegan food sector has been growing steadily and Heart of Nature Pure Grain Bread is as free-from as you can get.​

‘Focused and smart entrepreneur’​

“However, being really good for you is not enough, the product needs to look and taste great, which this does. The combination of a great product in a strong market and in the hands of a focused and smart entrepreneur won me over.”​

Pure Grain Foods produces a range of breads using whole grains that are gluten-free and suitable for vegans. The company boasted a turnover of more than £500,000 a year in just three years since it was founded.

The range, sold under the Heart of Nature brand, is available in Waitrose, Ocado, Whole Foods Market and Planet Organic, priced from £2.15.

Meanwhile, the makers of a novel tea and alcohol infusion drink​​ featured on an episode of Dragons’ Den, which aired on 4 November.