Root Kitchen
Root Kitchen is a UK-based, plant-based frozen ready meal company selling a menu of ten chef-prepared vegan dishes via D2C subscription, one-off e-commerce, themed bundles, and gift cards, plus wholesale to independent UK retailers, all produced in a BRC-certified Lytham factory using small-batch cooking and blast freezing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersSt Louis, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Root Kitchen does
Root Kitchen is a UK-based, plant-based frozen ready meal company founded in 2019 and operating from a BRC-certified purpose-built factory in Lytham, England. The company produces a menu of ten chef-developed vegan meals (including Tikka Masala and Rice, Moussaka, Butternut Squash Lasagne, Vegetable Shepherds Pie, Red Thai Vegetable Curry, and Szechuan Aubergine Noodles), each retailing at approximately £5.40-£5.50 per 400g portion, sold through themed bundles (Classics, European, Spicy, Asian, Bestsellers, Taster Kit), individual meals, and digital gift cards.
The core production approach is small-batch cooking in 70-litre stock pots using gas heat, followed immediately by blast-freezing to lock in nutrients and deliver a 15-month shelf life. Packaging is fully recyclable, with biodegradable box and denim insulation, and a free returns scheme for reuse; delivery to UK mainland addresses is via carbon-neutral courier. The technology stack is intentionally conventional: Shopify for commerce, Recharge Payments for subscription management, and standard payment processors (Shop Pay, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Amex, Mastercard, Visa). No AI/ML capabilities are present in the product or operations.
The business operates a dual-channel go-to-market. The primary D2C channel runs through rootkitchen.uk with both subscription (weekly boxes of 6-10 meals, £33-£45 typical renewal pricing, with pause/skip/cancel/frequency-edit controls) and one-time purchase options, supported by a 25% first-box discount, a £10 refer-a-friend incentive, and a UK ambassador program. A secondary wholesale channel distributes to independent UK retailers with point-of-sale, sample, and seasonal promotion support. Geographic scope is limited to UK mainland; Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, and remote areas are explicitly excluded. Total disclosed funding across two rounds (March 2022: $130,000 from Animoca Brands and Brinc; August 2023: $18,954 from The Good Food Programme) is approximately £124,000, and the company operates with 11-50 employees under co-founders David and Rishma, who bring 16 years of combined ready-meal industry experience.
Root Kitchen firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Root Kitchen
- Legal name
- Root Kitchen
- Website
- https://rootkitchen.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Root Kitchen is a UK-based, plant-based frozen ready meal company selling a menu of ten chef-prepared vegan dishes via D2C subscription, one-off e-commerce, themed bundles, and gift cards, plus wholesale to independent UK retailers, all produced in a BRC-certified Lytham factory using small-batch cooking and blast freezing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Root Kitchen industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Frozen Ready Meals
- NAICS
- Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing (311412), Frozen Food Manufacturing (31141)
- SIC
- Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Frozen Plant-Based & Vegetarian Meals (CRADADAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Frozen prepared meals & entrées manufacturing (AFAKAHAA), DTC Frozen & Prepared Meal Delivery (AFAIANAJ), Frozen Prepared Foods & Meals Manufacturing (AFAKACAH)
Keywords
Where Root Kitchen is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- St Louis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Root Kitchen business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Subscription Meal Boxes: Recurring subscription model allowing customers to receive regular deliveries of 6-10 meals with flexibility to move, cancel, skip, pause or edit delivery frequency. Provides predictable recurring revenue.
- One-Time Meal Purchases: Single purchase option for customers who want to try the service without committing to a subscription. Meals available at £5.40-£5.50 per individual portion.
- Gift Cards: Digital e-gift cards sold in denominations of £40, £50, £75, and £100, sent via email to recipients.
- Wholesale/Concession Sales: B2B sales to independent retailers and shops across the UK, with support materials provided to stockists.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Weekly | 6-meal subscription box |
| Subscription | Weekly | 7-meal subscription box |
| Subscription | Weekly | 8-meal subscription box |
| Subscription | Weekly | 9-meal subscription box |
| Subscription | Weekly | 10-meal subscription box |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Pre-made bundle options |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Individual meals |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Root Kitchen product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Root Kitchen produces and delivers chef-prepared, plant-based frozen ready meals to UK consumers through a direct-to-consumer e-commerce website and flexible subscription model. Meals are cooked in small batches at a BRC-rated factory using locally sourced ingredients, blast-frozen to preserve nutrients, and delivered via carbon-neutral courier to mainland UK addresses. The company also offers themed bundles, gift cards, and gifting boxes, alongside wholesale distribution to independent UK retailers.
Product overview
Root Kitchen is a UK-based frozen vegan ready meal subscription and e-commerce service. The core offering consists of 10 chef-prepared plant-based frozen meals (Tikka Masala and Rice, Moussaka, Aubergine Al Forno, Butternut Squash Lasagne, Vegetable Shepherds Pie, Korean Style Tofu Noodles, Red Thai Vegetable Curry, Mediterranean Vegetable Pasta, Vegetable Jalfrezi Curry & Rice, and Szechuan Aubergine Noodles) available for one-off purchase or subscription delivery. Meals are sold individually from £5.40 per portion or through themed bundle boxes (Classics, European, Spicy, Asian, Bestsellers, Taster Kit) offering savings of 10-20%. The company also offers gift cards and gifting boxes as supplementary products. All products are built on Shopify e-commerce platform with Recharge Payments handling subscription management.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Tikka Masala and Rice (Tofu Tikka Masala) Marinated tofu, cauliflower, and sweet potato in a creamy coconut tikka masala sauce with spinach and mushroom, served with Basmati rice. Sold at £5.40 per 400g portion.
- Moussaka Plant-based ragu seasoned with basil and mint, served between layers of aubergine and potato slices, topped with a soya milk and cashew nut béchamel sauce and vegan cheese.
- Aubergine Al Forno Classic Italian dish of sliced aubergines layered with handmade rich tomato sauce and soya and cashew nut béchamel sauce, finished with vegan cheese and basil.
- Butternut Squash Lasagne Butternut squash, mushrooms and spinach in a herby tomato sauce layered between lasagne sheets, topped with creamy béchamel sauce and vegan cheese.
- Vegetable Shepherds Pie Hearty slow-braised black eyed bean, lentil, and vegetable stew with a comforting mashed potato topping.
- Korean Style Tofu Noodles Marinated tofu on a bed of noodles coated in a fiery and sweet Korean style sauce, with edamame beans, red peppers, and carrot.
- Red Thai Vegetable Curry Fragrant Thai red curry sauce with baby corn, green beans, red peppers, sweet potato, water chestnuts and bamboo shoots, served with aromatic jasmine rice. Gluten-free.
- Mediterranean Vegetable Pasta Penne pasta with chargrilled vegetables in an authentic Mediterranean tomato and herb sauce with a hint of chilli, finished with basil pesto.
- Vegetable Jalfrezi Curry & Rice Spicy jalfrezi curry packed with onions, chickpeas, red peppers, and green beans, served with cumin basmati rice.
- Szechuan Aubergine Noodles Soba noodles with aubergine slices coated in a sweet rich soy, maple syrup, and sesame oil Szechuan pepper dressing.
- Custom Subscription Meal Box Recurring subscription box of 6-10 chef-prepared plant-based frozen meals with flexible scheduling, allowing customers to move, cancel, skip, pause, or edit delivery frequency. Weekly billing cadence; prices range from £27.00 (6 meals) to £37.50 (10 meals) for first box with 25% discount, then £33.00 to £45.00 at renewal.
- Classics Bundle Traditional vegan versions of classic favourites portioned for one person. Available as 6 meals from £32.40 (save 10%), 8 meals £37.40 (save 15%), 10 meals £40.00 (save 20%).
- Spicy Bundle Selection of vegan curries available in quantities of 6, 8, or 10 single portion curries, from £4.00 per meal.
- Gift Cards Digital e-gift cards available in denominations of £40, £50, £75, and £100, sent via email to recipients.
- Gifting Boxes Freshly frozen food hampers or gift vouchers for delivering plant-based meals to loved ones as a gift.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduces eco-footprint by 50% compared to meat-based diets
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Root Kitchen
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Root Kitchen technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
Feature4 records
Root Kitchen partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Root Kitchen competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- BOL Foods: BOL Foods is a UK plant-based brand focused on vegetable-rich ready meals (often with fresh formats). Comparable to Root Kitchen in the UK plant-based convenience segment, but BOL leans toward fresh chilled rather than frozen and has broader retail distribution.
- Tideford Organics: Tideford Organics produces organic plant-based soups, sauces, and meals distributed through UK retailers. Comparable to Root Kitchen in plant-based positioning and UK retail/wholesale channels, though product mix is broader (soups and sauces rather than full frozen meals).
Direct peers
- Thistle: Thistle is a US DTC plant-based meal brand with frozen and prepared options. Comparable to Root Kitchen on DTC plant-based positioning and subscription model, but Thistle is fresher-meal focused with national US delivery rather than frozen.
- Strong Roots: Strong Roots is a plant-based frozen food brand specializing in vegetable-led meals, distributed through major UK and Irish retailers. Comparable to Root Kitchen in plant-based positioning and frozen format, though Strong Roots leans more retail-led than DTC subscription.
- Wicked Kitchen: Wicked Kitchen produces plant-based chilled and frozen meals distributed through Tesco and other UK retailers. Comparable to Root Kitchen in plant-based frozen cuisine with chef-inspired recipes, but operates at significantly larger scale via major retailer partnerships.
- Cook: Cook is a UK frozen ready-meal brand with BRC-accredited production, broad retail presence (including Waitrose and Ocado), and DTC subscription offering. Overlaps with Root Kitchen in frozen ready meals and B2B/wholesale channels, though Cook's range is not exclusively plant-based.
- Daily Harvest: Daily Harvest is a US-based DTC subscription brand for frozen, chef-prepared plant-forward meals. Directly comparable to Root Kitchen on DTC subscription model, frozen format, and plant-based positioning, though US-focused and broader menu including smoothies and bowls.
- Allplants: Allplants is the most direct UK competitor, offering chef-prepared plant-based frozen meals via DTC subscription and retail. Same category (plant-based frozen), same delivery model (D2C subscription boxes), and same target customer (UK flexitarian/vegan consumers).
Broad incumbents
- Garden Gourmet (Nestlé): Garden Gourmet is Nestlé's plant-based brand offering frozen meals, burgers, and other products across major European retailers. Represents a large incumbent comparable to Root Kitchen's plant-based frozen positioning, with vastly greater distribution and marketing scale.
- Birds Eye: Birds Eye is the UK market-leading frozen food brand, now part of Conagra/Ignite, with a broad portfolio including vegetarian ranges. Comparable to Root Kitchen as a UK frozen ready-meal producer with mass-retail distribution, though its portfolio is far broader and not plant-based-specialist.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Root Kitchen social profiles
Digital presenceRoot Kitchen compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Root Kitchen financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Root Kitchen leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Root Kitchen funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Root Kitchen 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 Root Kitchen
What does Root Kitchen do?
Root Kitchen produces and delivers chef-prepared, plant-based frozen ready meals to UK consumers through a direct-to-consumer e-commerce website and flexible subscription model. Meals are cooked in small batches at a BRC-rated factory using locally sourced ingredients, blast-frozen to preserve nutrients, and delivered via carbon-neutral courier to mainland UK addresses. The company also offers themed bundles, gift cards, and gifting boxes, alongside wholesale distribution to independent UK retailers.
Is Root Kitchen a public or private company?
Root Kitchen is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Root Kitchen founded?
Root Kitchen was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Root Kitchen based?
Root Kitchen is headquartered in St Louis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Root Kitchen make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Subscription Meal Boxes are the primary driver. The others are one-Time Meal Purchases, gift Cards and wholesale/Concession Sales.
Who are Root Kitchen's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are BOL Foods and Tideford Organics. Direct peers are Thistle, Strong Roots, Wicked Kitchen, Cook, Daily Harvest and Allplants. Broad incumbents are Garden Gourmet (Nestlé) and Birds Eye.
Does Root Kitchen have an API?
No public API is recorded for Root Kitchen.
What industry is Root Kitchen in?
Root Kitchen's product category is Frozen Ready Meals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADADAF, Frozen Plant-Based & Vegetarian Meals, with a secondary code of AFAKAHAA, Frozen prepared meals & entrées manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 311412 and its SIC code is 2030.