RBS SWEETENS THE DEAL FOR CRUSHED UK LTD

Trafford-based fruit snack business, Crushed UK Ltd, has got off to a flying start, launching their products in 216 Waitrose stores across the country thanks to funding from RBS.

Founded by mum and nursery owner, Jenny Salmon and her friend, Deborah Ewing Chow, Crushed UK Ltd takes inspiration from the French culture of pureed fruit being a prominent part of daily healthy eating.

Jenny explains,

“I noticed that in the UK, pureed fruit is specifically marketed to very young children of nursery age.  However I noticed that when those same children came into school, they would be laughed at for eating “baby food” in pouches. I felt that there needed to be an “older/cooler” brand that meant that children could continue to enjoy this healthy treat in the way children do in France.  Parents and friends agreed.”

With the combination of Deborah’s 25 years in marketing with Jenny’s understanding of the target market, Crushed UK Ltd was born.

The business partners sought specialist help in the development of the product and won a contract with Waitrose to supply stores across the country. Launching the business against real orders meant that when the business launched, cash flow wase a necessity to ensure the fulfilment of orders. Having personally banked with RBS for nearly eight years, Jenny and Deborah approached Relationship Manager, Steve Ardern – part of the Stockport team – who provided an RBS Overdraft Facility worth £120,000.

Deborah comments,

“We are two normal families and between us we didn’t have the cash flow required to grow the business. We are now able to develop more flavours and fulfil orders in line with demand.”

Jenny continues,

“We have worked up a fantastic relationship with Steve, we see him as a friend. He always jumps on anything we need and we feel that we’ve got someone we really trust to guide us.”

Steve also comments,

“Deborah and Jenny have brought together their respective experiences and skills to create a fantastic product – their contract with Waitrose is a testament to this.  I’m looking forward to seeing the business grow in the coming months and reach it’s full potential.” 

The RBS Group (RBS) provides a wide range of products and services to personal, commercial and large corporate and institutional customers through its two main subsidiaries, The Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest, as well as through a number of other well-known brands including Citizens, Charter One, Ulster Bank and Coutts.