Investment Feeds Natural Growth for Virginia Health Foods

23 August, 2012

24th August 2012 – Virginia Health Foods, based in Cork, has recently secured a substantial investment through the AxisBIC Business Angel Partnership and Enterprise Ireland. Virginia Health Foods will use the investment to grow the business, develop new products and create jobs. The on-going growth of the company is based on continued innovation in the Health Food market and bringing high quality healthy food products to mainstream retailers at very competitive prices.

Since receiving investment sales have more than doubled and several major retailer supply contracts have been secured. Helen’s range of gluten free bakery mixes have been listed in Sainsbury’s UK and sales continue to climb. A newly branded Helen’s range of nutritional cereal toppings was recently launched which has been extremely well received by the market resulting in significant growth in sales and a listing secured with Intermarché in Portugal to supply 235 stores.

Virginia Health Food, founded by Food scientist and Nutritionist Helen O’Dowd, based in Oysterhaven, Cork is a family owned company. The company develops and supplies health foods and gluten free bakery mixes to the retail sector, in Ireland, UK, Germany and Portugal.

Helen O'Dowd, Founder and Director, Virginia Health Foods speaking at the recent AxisBIC event ‘Celebrating Cork’s High Growth Start-ups’ at the Port of Cork

As a Founder and Director of Virginia Health Foods, Helen O’ Dowd has always believed that the preparation of good nutritious food forms the building block of robust good health said that “My fundamental belief is in the wisdom of eating wholesome natural foods over processed foods works better than any medicine! This investment not only enables us to grow our business but also to innovate and look at new products for what is a rapidly expanding marketplace. We are also delighted to be able to create jobs both in our company and our partner companies.”

AxisBIC worked with Virginia Health Foods on their business plan and helped refine their investor proposition. The AxisBIC Venture Academy event enabled Helen to pitch their proposition to qualified investors in a confidential and supportive environment. It was from this presentation that they secured the private equity investment.

Mark O’Sullivan, AxisBIC Business Angel Partnership commented that, “We are delighted to work with Helen and her team in raising this private equity seed investment. There is significant potential in this sector for innovative products and this investment really lets Helen and her team concentrate on new product development and growing sales.”