Pod secures £3.5m investment to expand to 25 sites

Pod secured a £2.5m investment from existing backer and specialist private equity JGR Capital, while the remaining £1m was put forward by its founding shareholders and the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme via Natwest bank.

The group, headed by chief executive and founder Tim Hall, intends to open six Pods in the West End, Shoreditch, Regents Place, Soho, Paddington and Bishopsgate over the next three months, with further openings planned for Autumn 2011.

Hall, who founded the company in 2006, said the concept offered consumers a healthy alternative to popular high street coffee shop brands.

“Our enlightened customers want the option of high quality, healthy food-to-go for breakfast and lunch; they are bored of sandwich and coffee chains,” he said. “This second investment by the JGR team enables me to take the next major step in pod’s development to offer our delicious, healthy menu to a much wider audience.”

Financial backing​

In addition to the investment, James Paget of JGR Capital has now joined the board of directors.

He said: “Pod is one of the fastest growing brands in the healthy fast food sector; a sector in which we believe has significant global potential. We have backed Pod for the past three years and we now believe that Tim has the offer and management team to challenge the traditional fast food and sandwich chains.”

Pod’s nine existing sites currently turnover around £10m a year and employ 110 staff, serving healthy salads, wraps, sobas, hot dishes and breakfast options.