HomeCooks
HomeCooks is a UK meal-prep marketplace connecting health-conscious consumers with 35+ independent chefs producing 300+ small-batch, high-protein dishes, delivered weekly via subscription, supermarket retail, and quick-commerce partnerships across 30+ UK cities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What HomeCooks does
HomeCooks is a UK-based meal-prep marketplace connecting health-conscious consumers with a network of 35+ independent chefs producing 300+ small-batch, high-protein dishes across global cuisines. Founded in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown in North London by Josh Magidson, the business originated as a Facebook group that enabled out-of-work chefs to sell home-cooked meals directly to local communities. The company is legally registered as Juno Food Ltd (company number 12812856) in England and Wales, headquartered at 86-90 Paul Street, London, and operates with a lean team of 1-10 employees.
The platform delivers weekly subscription meal plans of 6-14 chef-prepared meals at £7.50-£7.95 per meal across England, Scotland, and Wales (excluding the Scottish Highlands), shipped via DHL twice weekly in temperature-controlled packaging. Customers can skip, swap, or cancel any time. Revenue is generated through three streams: recurring subscriptions (primary), retail product sales through supermarket partnerships (12 Budgens stores, 10 Co-op stores in Lincolnshire), and quick-commerce availability on GoPuff across 15 UK cities, plus farm-shop and independent-retailer distribution. The technology stack is built on Shopify with PayPal, ShopPay, and Quiver payment processing, and bundles the Balance fitness tracking app - featuring AI photo recognition, barcode scanning, and macro tracking - as a value-add for subscribers.
As of April 2026, HomeCooks had delivered 452,871 cumulative meals to 30,000+ people and 60,000+ customers, maintaining a 4.6-star rating across 6,000+ reviews. The company has raised approximately £3.85 million across multiple seed rounds - including a £2.45 million ($3.1 million) round led by Speedinvest in December 2023 and a £1.4 million round in January 2026 from PXN Ventures, Love Ventures, Speedinvest, and angel investors - to fund geographic expansion into northern UK regions and retail channel growth. Food-safety credentials include SALSA-accredited production kitchens, Level 2 food safety certification, 5-star hygiene ratings across the chef network, and local council registration.
HomeCooks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HomeCooks
- Legal name
- Juno Food Ltd
- Website
- https://home-cooks.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- HomeCooks is a UK meal-prep marketplace connecting health-conscious consumers with 35+ independent chefs producing 300+ small-batch, high-protein dishes, delivered weekly via subscription, supermarket retail, and quick-commerce partnerships across 30+ UK cities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HomeCooks industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Meal Prep Delivery Services
- NAICS
- Caterers (722320), Food Service Contractors (72231)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Local Chef/Restaurant Meal Boxes & Marketplace Prepared Meals (CRAHAJAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Prepared Meal Subscriptions (Chef-Prepared, Recurring) (CRAHAJAD), Direct-to-Consumer Meal Kit Subscriptions (CRAHAJAA), Premium Gourmet & Chef-Curated Meal Kits/Prepared Meals (CRAHAJAK)
Keywords
Where HomeCooks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
HomeCooks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Subscription Meal Plans: Weekly recurring subscription delivering 6-14 chef-prepared meals. Flexible plans with ability to skip weeks, swap meals, or cancel anytime. Core revenue driver.
- Retail Product Sales: Pre-packaged meals sold through supermarket partnerships (Budgens, Co-op), farm shops, and quick commerce platforms (GoPuff). One-time purchase model for individual meal purchases.
- Gift Cards: Digital gift cards sold in denominations of £10, £20, £50, £100, £200, and £750. One-time purchase with no expiration date.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Weekly | Per meal pricing |
| Subscription | Weekly | Weekly subscription plans (6-14 meals) |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
HomeCooks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HomeCooks is a UK-based marketplace that connects health-conscious consumers with 35+ independent chefs who prepare small-batch, high-protein ready meals. Customers subscribe weekly to receive 6-14 chef-cooked meals (300+ rotating dishes across global cuisines) shipped twice weekly in temperature-controlled packaging via DHL. The offering is extended through bundled fitness tracking (Balance app) and omnichannel retail distribution via Co-op, GoPuff, Budgens, and farm shops.
Product overview
HomeCooks operates as a meal-prep marketplace platform connecting health-conscious consumers with independent UK chefs. The core offering is a weekly meal subscription service delivering chef-prepared, high-protein prep meals (200+ dishes, 6-14 meals per week). The platform includes the Balance fitness tracking app (free with subscription), gift card functionality, and a Council of Eaters community program. Retail products are available through Co-op stores and Gopuff partnerships. The service differentiates through small-batch cooking by independent chefs rather than industrial food production.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- HomeCooks Weekly Meal Subscription Subscription service delivering 6-14 chef-prepared prep meals per week, chosen from 300+ rotating dishes across global cuisines (high-protein, weight-loss, healthy, Mediterranean, Indian, etc.), shipped twice weekly (Tuesdays/Fridays) via DHL in temperature-controlled packaging across mainland UK; flexible plans allowing customers to skip weeks, swap meals, or cancel anytime. Meals deliver 30-60g protein per serving, no preservatives, and are heat-and-eat in 3 minutes.
- Balance Fitness Tracking App Fitness and nutrition tracking application bundled free with HomeCooks subscriptions (standalone value £130/year). Uses AI photo recognition and barcode scanning to log meals in one tap, tracks macros/calories, includes social features to track nutrition alongside friends, and offers smart coaching suggestions based on individual eating patterns.
- HomeCooks Gift Cards Digital gift cards delivered via email in fixed denominations of £10, £20, £50, £100, £200, and £750, redeemable against HomeCooks meal subscriptions; no expiration date.
Quantifiable outcome
- 452,871 meals delivered as of April 2026
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use HomeCooks
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
HomeCooks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
AI capability2 records
Feature2 records
HomeCooks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Co-opcoreRetail partnership with Co-op stores across Lincolnshire. HomeCooks products launched in ten Co-op stores. Partnership marks entry into supermarket retail distribution channel alongside existing direct-to-consumer model.
- GoPuffcoreQuick commerce partnership providing delivery in 15 UK cities: Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Coventry, High Wycombe, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Luton, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield, Swansea. Enables on-demand meal access beyond subscription model.
- Budgenscore12 Budgens store locations across UK stock HomeCooks retail meal products. Locations include Brockley, Basildon, Bickley, Canning Town, Coinbrook Slough, Dulwich, East Finchley, Islington, Pomeroy, Whitechapel, and others.
- Farm Shops (Country Market, Loddington Farm, Scotts Farm Shop, Westlands Farm)minorPartnership with independent farm shops across UK for premium retail meal distribution. Includes Country Market Kingsley, Loddington Farm Maidstone, Scotts Farm Shop Witchford, Westlands Farm Southampton.
- Independent Retailers (Fridge of Plenty, Organic Delights, Eat 17)minorPartnership with independent specialty retailers. Fridge of Plenty Crouch End, Organic Delights Herne Hill, Eat 17 Hackney and Walthamstow.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
HomeCooks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Gousto: UK's largest direct-to-consumer meal kit subscription service delivering recipe boxes with pre-portioned ingredients weekly. Most direct peer to HomeCooks in the UK DTC meal kit category, though Gousto uses a centralized production model rather than independent chef marketplace.
- Mindful Chef: UK-based healthy meal kit subscription service focused on nutritionist-approved recipes and premium positioning. Directly competes with HomeCooks for health-conscious UK consumers seeking convenient nutritious meals.
- Allplants: UK plant-based prepared meal delivery subscription serving chef-cooked frozen meals nationwide. Comparable model to HomeCooks in delivering chef-prepared ready meals to UK consumers on a subscription basis.
- Cook: UK prepared frozen meal retailer and wholesaler (Cook Trading Ltd) selling chef-made ready meals through retail stores and direct delivery. Comparable prepared-meal offering with retail distribution similar to HomeCooks' Co-op and Budgens partnerships.
- Muscle Food: UK online retailer specializing in high-protein meals, lean meats, and fitness-focused food products with subscription and one-off purchase options. Directly comparable to HomeCooks' high-protein positioning targeting fitness enthusiasts.
- Field Doctor: UK subscription meal delivery service offering chef-prepared meals tailored to specific health conditions and dietary requirements. Comparable to HomeCooks' health-focused positioning and chef-prepared subscription model.
- CookUnity: Chef-prepared meal subscription marketplace connecting independent chefs with consumers for weekly meal delivery. Most direct model peer to HomeCooks' independent chef marketplace approach, though primarily US-based with recent UK expansion.
- Fresh Fitness Food: UK meal delivery subscription service delivering chef-prepared macro-counted meals tailored to fitness and weight management goals. Directly comparable to HomeCooks in serving fitness-conscious consumers with high-protein chef meals.
Broad incumbents
- HelloFresh: Global meal kit subscription leader with significant UK presence, offering weekly recipe boxes and prepared meal options. Competes with HomeCooks in the DTC meal delivery category but with centralized production and broader recipe variety.
Others
- Abel & Cole: UK organic food subscription box delivery service offering groceries and prepared meal solutions with sustainability focus. Adjacent competitor in UK food subscription category though focused on ingredient boxes rather than prepared meals.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
HomeCooks social profiles
Digital presenceHomeCooks compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
HomeCooks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HomeCooks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
HomeCooks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors6 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HomeCooks M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about HomeCooks
What does HomeCooks do?
HomeCooks is a UK-based marketplace that connects health-conscious consumers with 35+ independent chefs who prepare small-batch, high-protein ready meals. Customers subscribe weekly to receive 6-14 chef-cooked meals (300+ rotating dishes across global cuisines) shipped twice weekly in temperature-controlled packaging via DHL. The offering is extended through bundled fitness tracking (Balance app) and omnichannel retail distribution via Co-op, GoPuff, Budgens, and farm shops.
Is HomeCooks a public or private company?
HomeCooks is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was HomeCooks founded?
HomeCooks was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is HomeCooks based?
HomeCooks is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does HomeCooks make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Subscription Meal Plans are the primary driver. The others are retail Product Sales and gift Cards.
Who are HomeCooks's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Gousto, Mindful Chef, Allplants, Cook, Muscle Food, Field Doctor, CookUnity and Fresh Fitness Food. HelloFresh is listed as a broad incumbent. Abel & Cole is listed as an others.
Does HomeCooks have an API?
No public API is recorded for HomeCooks.
What industry is HomeCooks in?
HomeCooks's product category is Meal Prep Delivery Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAHAJAI, Local Chef/Restaurant Meal Boxes & Marketplace Prepared Meals, with a secondary code of CRAHAJAD, Prepared Meal Subscriptions (Chef-Prepared, Recurring). Its NAICS code is 722320 and its SIC code is 2090.