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The Gluten Free Kitchen

Lindsey McMenamin
Portfolio Manager

“The increased demand for our product ranges means we need more staff who will also be part of our expansion journey into larger premises.”

Sue Fleming, Director, The Gluten Free Kitchen

The success story of North Yorkshire business The Gluten Free Kitchen was boosted by new investment from NPIF – FW Capital Debt Finance, as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.

The six-figure loan assisted The Gluten Free Kitchen with its growth and the creation of five new jobs, as demand soars for its range of high-quality gluten and ‘free-from’ food. The business plans to move to larger premises in the Leyburn Business Park to accommodate the increased demand.

The business was established in 2005, starting out in the village of Aysgarth in North Yorkshire, before moving to larger production facilities and a retail outlet in Leyburn. 

Founder Sue Fleming saw the challenges faced by people with coeliac disease when sourcing good quality food that is free from gluten. Sue began to experiment with a series of recipes and created dishes which are today available from The Gluten Free Kitchen’s online store.

A selection of products are also available in a selected number of Waitrose Stores, online at Ocado, as well as independent outlets and farm shops throughout the UK. The product range includes ‘free from’ cakes, puddings, and savoury pies.

The first NPIF investment phase has now completed with the British Business Bank launching the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II in March 2024.