Meridian Foods
Meridian Foods Limited is a UK-based natural nut and seed butter manufacturer and brand owner, selling palm oil free, vegan-certified peanut butters, almond butters, specialty seed butters, and chocolate spreads direct-to-consumer via its Shopify storefront to health-conscious and vegan consumers across the UK and EU.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1980
- HeadquartersBrockworth, United Kingdom
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Meridian Foods does
Meridian Foods Limited is a UK-based private food manufacturer and brand owner specializing in natural nut and seed butters. Founded in the 1980s and headquartered in Brockworth (Gloucester), the company operates its own production facility in Corwen, North Wales, using roasting and grinding techniques to produce peanut butters, almond butters, specialty nut butters (cashew, hazelnut, coconut almond), tahini, and seed butters. The company is part of the SHS Group conglomerate. Its product range carries multiple third-party certifications, including POFCAP palm oil free certification (a first for a UK nut butter brand), Vegan Society Trademark across the full range, Soil Association organic certification on the Organic Collection, and gluten-free compliance under EU regulations.
The company monetizes primarily through direct-to-consumer e-commerce via its Shopify-hosted storefront (shop.meridianfoods.co.uk), with order fulfillment managed by distribution partner CLF Distribution across UK and EU destinations, supplemented by a sub-brand chocolate spread (Chocca), a partnership-distributed fruit squash line (Rocks Drinks), and complementary home baking ingredients such as barley malt extract, yeast extract, and blackstrap molasses. Pricing is unit-based, ranging from £2.59 to £20.99 across pack sizes of 170g to 1kg, with free mainland UK delivery on orders over £35.
Meridian targets health-conscious, vegan, and plant-based consumers seeking natural ingredients without palm oil, added sugar, stabilisers, or artificial additives. The brand is positioned on ethical and sustainability credentials, supported by a charity partnership with International Animal Rescue (5p per Charity Edition Smooth Chocolate Spread jar) and content-driven marketing via Instagram, recipe blogs, and email newsletters. Customer-facing technology is limited to a standard Shopify storefront with no public API, mobile application, or disclosed AI/ML capabilities.
Meridian Foods firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Meridian Foods
- Legal name
- Meridian Foods Limited
- Website
- https://shop.meridianfoods.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1980
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Meridian Foods Limited is a UK-based natural nut and seed butter manufacturer and brand owner, selling palm oil free, vegan-certified peanut butters, almond butters, specialty seed butters, and chocolate spreads direct-to-consumer via its Shopify storefront to health-conscious and vegan consumers across the UK and EU.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Meridian Foods industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Natural Nut and Seed Butters
- NAICS
- Food Manufacturing (311), Confectionery and Nut Retailers (445292), Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing (31135)
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Nuts, Seeds & Trail Mix Snacks (CRADABAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Chocolate & Candy Snacks Manufacturing (AFAKAIAM)
Keywords
Where Meridian Foods is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brockworth
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Meridian Foods business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Direct E-commerce Product Sales: Online retail sales through owned Shopify storefront. Products shipped via CLF Distribution partner. Revenue from nut butters, seed butters, chocolate spreads, and home baking products at various price points.
- Charitable Product Donation: 5p donated from each sale of Charity Edition Smooth Chocolate Spread to International Animal Rescue for orangutan conservation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard nut butters 170g-1kg |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Meridian Foods product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Meridian Foods manufactures and sells a portfolio of natural nut and seed butters (peanut, almond, cashew, hazelnut, tahini, pumpkin seed), chocolate spreads (Chocca), home baking ingredients (barley malt extract, organic blackstrap molasses, yeast extract), and partner-distributed fruit squashes (Rocks Drinks). Products are made at the company's own factory in Corwen, North Wales and sold direct-to-consumer through a Shopify e-commerce storefront, with UK and EU shipping available.
Product overview
Meridian Foods is a natural nut and seed butter brand offering a diverse portfolio of products. The core offering consists of Peanut Butters (available in organic and regular varieties, smooth and crunchy textures, sizes from 280g to 1kg), Almond Butters, Speciality & Seed Butters (including cashew, hazelnut, coconut almond, and tahini), and the Chocca Chocolate Spread line. The company also offers complementary products including Organic Blackstrap Molasses, Yeast Extract, Barley Malt Extract for baking, and Home Baking essentials. Through a partnership with Rocks Drinks, Meridian offers fruit squashes. All products are certified vegan, palm oil free (first UK nut butter brand certified by POFCAP), and a significant portion of the range is organic (Soil Association certified).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Rocks Drinks: Natural fruit squashes brand partnered with Meridian since 1981, featuring Devonshire spring water and whole fruit ingredients
- Chocca
Products and services
- Peanut Butters Natural peanut butters made with 100% nuts or just a pinch of sea salt, available in smooth and crunchy textures in sizes from 280g to 1kg for individual consumers seeking everyday nut butter spreads.
- Almond Butters Natural almond butters high in vitamin E and fibre, low in saturated fat, with around 20% protein, available in smooth and crunchy varieties for individual consumers seeking nutrient-dense nut butter options.
- Speciality & Seed Butters Speciality butters including cashew butter, hazelnut butter, coconut almond butter, light and dark tahini (made from sesame seeds), and pumpkin seed butter, made with 100% nuts or minimal added ingredients for individual consumers seeking variety in nut and seed spreads.
- Organic Collection Certified organic nut and seed butters, fruit spreads, home baking essentials and cooking sauces produced to EU regulations and certified by the Soil Association and other registered certification bodies, targeted at consumers prioritising certified organic ingredients.
- Chocca Smooth Chocolate Spread Chocolate spread under the Chocca sub-brand containing over 50% nuts (peanut, cashew and hazelnut) blended with cocoa, with 50% less sugar than comparable UK chocolate spreads. The Charity Edition donates 5p per jar to International Animal Rescue for orangutan conservation. Targeted at individual consumers seeking lower-sugar, nut-rich chocolate spreads.
- Barley Malt Extract 100% extract of barley and malted barley containing carbohydrates, trace elements and vitamins, marketed as a versatile natural sweetener for home baking and cooking for individual consumers.
- Organic Blackstrap Molasses Organic blackstrap molasses available in 350g and 600g sizes, positioned as a natural ingredient for home baking and cooking for individual consumers.
- Yeast Extract Natural yeast extract containing B vitamins (B12, B6, B1, B2, B3 and Folic Acid), gluten free despite being derived from barley (below 20ppm ELISA per EU regulations 929/2014 and Coeliac UK standards), for individual consumers seeking a vegan savoury spread.
- Rocks Drinks Fruit Squashes 100% natural fruit squashes made with fruit, sugar and Devonshire spring water, offered through Meridian's online shop under a partnership with Rocks Drinks. Available in Blackcurrant, Orange and Summer Fruits flavours in 740ml bottles for individual consumers seeking natural beverage options.
Quantifiable outcome
- Funded rescue of five orangutans and replanting scheme to plant 50,000 trees in Ketapang, West Borneo
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Meridian Foods
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Meridian Foods technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Meridian Foods partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- International Animal RescuecorePartnership with International Animal Rescue for animal and habitat protection. Meridian contributed funding to rescue five orangutans and a tree replanting scheme to plant 50,000 trees in Ketapang, West Borneo. The company also sponsored the Rainforest Run, raising £2,500 for tree planting. 5p from every Charity Edition Smooth Chocolate Spread jar is donated to support orangutan conservation.
- CLF DistributioncoreCLF Distribution manages all order fulfillment, shipping, and customer service for the online shop. Orders are processed and despatched by CLF, with UK and EU deliveries handled through their preferred courier network.
- Rocks DrinksminorPartnership to offer Rocks Drinks fruit squashes alongside Meridian's nut butter range. Rocks have been making squashes since 1981 using Devonshire spring water and whole fruit. Meridian serves as a distributor for these complementary products through their online shop.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves2 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Meridian Foods competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Whole Earth: UK natural foods brand (owned by Kallo/ABF) offering peanut butter, spreads, and organic food products. Overlaps with Meridian on nut butter and organic positioning but operates as part of a broader portfolio of natural foods rather than specialising in nut butters.
- Sun-Pat: Long-established UK peanut butter brand owned by Hain Celestial, sold primarily through grocery channels. Competes with Meridian on the peanut butter shelf but uses conventional formulations rather than Meridian's palm-oil-free, clean-label positioning.
Direct peers
- ManiLife: UK premium peanut butter brand focused on single-origin, high-oleic peanuts with deep-roast flavour profiles. Comparable to Meridian on UK natural peanut butter positioning but competes on a more gourmet/single-origin narrative.
- Fix & Fogg: New Zealand-based nut butter brand offering peanut, almond, and cashew butters in premium packaging. Direct comparable on product, natural ingredients positioning, and DTC-led growth model, though primarily serves ANZ rather than UK.
- Betty Lou's: US nut butter brand offering peanut, almond, and cashew butters with clean-label positioning. Comparable product range and natural ingredient philosophy to Meridian, though primarily distributed in US natural and grocery channels.
- Justin's: US nut butter brand (owned by Hormel) specialising in almond and peanut butter squeezy packs and nut butter cups. Directly comparable product portfolio and natural ingredients positioning; primarily US-distributed but represents the global benchmark brand in the premium nut butter category Meridian competes in.
- Barney Butter: US almond butter brand marketed as a portable, no-stir alternative to traditional almond butters. Comparable product format and natural positioning to Meridian's almond butter range, with focus on convenience and on-the-go consumption.
- Pip & Nut: UK-based premium nut butter brand founded in 2015 offering peanut, almond, and cashew butters with natural, palm-oil-free positioning. Closest direct competitor to Meridian in the UK natural nut butter category with overlapping target consumer (health-conscious, active) and similar DTC + grocery omnichannel model.
Emerging players
- 88 Acres: US-based seed and nut butter brand focused on allergen-free, gluten-free, vegan formulations with strong retail presence. Comparable to Meridian's Chocca line and allergen-conscious positioning but operates at smaller scale in US specialty channels.
- Nuts 'n More: US nut butter brand focused on high-protein, flavoured nut butters positioned at fitness and sports nutrition consumers. Partial overlap with Meridian on nut butter format but differentiated by protein-fortified, fitness-oriented positioning.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Meridian Foods social profiles
Digital presenceMeridian Foods compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Meridian Foods financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Meridian Foods leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Meridian Foods subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Meridian Foods funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Meridian Foods 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 Meridian Foods
What does Meridian Foods do?
Meridian Foods manufactures and sells a portfolio of natural nut and seed butters (peanut, almond, cashew, hazelnut, tahini, pumpkin seed), chocolate spreads (Chocca), home baking ingredients (barley malt extract, organic blackstrap molasses, yeast extract), and partner-distributed fruit squashes (Rocks Drinks). Products are made at the company's own factory in Corwen, North Wales and sold direct-to-consumer through a Shopify e-commerce storefront, with UK and EU shipping available.
Is Meridian Foods a public or private company?
Meridian Foods is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Meridian Foods founded?
Meridian Foods was founded in 1980. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Meridian Foods based?
Meridian Foods is headquartered in Brockworth, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Meridian Foods make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Direct E-commerce Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are charitable Product Donation.
Who are Meridian Foods's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Whole Earth and Sun-Pat. Direct peers are ManiLife, Fix & Fogg, Betty Lou's, Justin's, Barney Butter and Pip & Nut. Emerging players are 88 Acres and Nuts 'n More.
Does Meridian Foods have an API?
No public API is recorded for Meridian Foods.
What industry is Meridian Foods in?
Meridian Foods's product category is Natural Nut and Seed Butters. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADABAF, Nuts, Seeds & Trail Mix Snacks, with a secondary code of AFAKAIAM, Chocolate & Candy Snacks Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 311 and its SIC code is 2000.