Business Growth for Freaks of Nature

Wakefield manufacturer to increase production by 400% with a £1m investment into new facilities. 

An early investment, from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Business Support Service, helped Freaks of Nature, a free-from and vegan-friendly dessert manufacturer based in Wakefield to set up operations and target the growing market for vegan products. Four years later, the company is going from strength to strength and now aims to increase production by 400% with a £1 million investment into new facilities. 

The business was set up in 2016 by Peter Ahye, an accountant and foodie who discovered that there was a limited number of vegan desserts available on the market. With the growth of vegan diets and early interest from retailers, Peter purchased a factory in Ossett to set up operations.  

Early in the development of his venture, Peter was connected to the Business Support Service through Wakefield Council and secured £100,000 LEP funding to invest in new equipment for the factory in 2016. 

Four years on, the business is installing a second manufacturing line and investing in bigger and more eco-efficient equipment to help ramp up production capacity and reduce its environmental impact by conserving energy and minimising water consumption. 

Peter Ahye, Founder, Freaks of Nature said: 

“It was very encouraging that the LEP and Wakefield Council backed the business early in its development. It’s great to see how much we’ve achieved since 2016. The new investment is very exciting and marks a significant turning point in our business. In the first quarter of this year, our production volumes were up by 100% despite being held back by Covid-19, and strong indications show they are set to continue. I’d encourage any ambitious business to get in touch with the LEP Business Support Service to find out what help is available.” 

Today, the popular desserts including chocolate and lemon mousses and a chocolate fudge hot pudding are available to in major retailers including Asda, Morrisons, M&S, Tesco, and Waitrose. The business continues to develop new partnerships with major retailers, building on their position as a leading supplier of plant-based desserts.