Close

Jump to:

  • Navigation
  • Content
  • Footer
THIS™ hero image

THIS™

Follow

The UK’s fastest growing food brand (Feb '23), making ridiculously meaty plant-based alternatives.

186%
 - 
Funded 26 Mar 2024
£750,000 target
£1,424,700 from 2,148 investors
More
Less

Business overview

Location Coventry, United Kingdom
Social media
Website this.co
Sectors Food & Beverage Non-Digital Mixed B2B/B2C
Company number 11104088
Incorporation date 8 Dec 2018
More
Less

Investment summary

Type Convertible
Discount 15%
Share price N/A
Tax relief N/A
More
Less

Business highlights

  • £22.3m annualised revenue after 4.5 years trading**
  • Largest independently owned meat-free brand
  • New CEO, formerly CEO of UK's top baby food brand
  • Launching a new minimally processed range in 2024
More
Less

Key features

  • No Secondary Market
  • Nominee investment min. £20.00 +
  • Direct investment min. £50,000.00 +
  • Idea
  • Key Information
  • Team
  • Updates
  • Investors 2,148
  • Discussion
  • Documents

Learn more about convertible campaigns.

Idea

Introduction

THIS makes plant-based products, designed to make animal-based meat feel like a massive waste of money.

Having launched just 4.5 years ago, THIS ranked as the UK’s fastest-growing food brand* and largest independently owned meat-alternative brand (and 3rd biggest overall). THIS has consistently delivered outstanding growth figures since launch:

£5.5m in year 1 (2020)

£11.8m in year 2 (2021)

£13m in year 3 (2022)

£19.3m in year 4 (2023)**

THIS was created when 2 former meat lovers checked out meat-free food and decided they didn't want any of it. After successfully exiting their meat burger chain, Chosen Bun, they set out to make the UK's most realistic meat alternatives.

In 2024 the Founders have taken a step back to make room for a highly accomplished new CEO at THIS - Mark Cuddigan, who has previously helped take UK's leading baby food brand from c.£24m sales to c.£86m sales, to take THIS to new heights.

THIS now makes over 18 products, which are now in nearly 24,000 stocking points across all major UK grocers. The brand has also partnered with the leading restaurant chains, like Greggs, Caffe Nero, Prezzo and more.

*based on Fast 50 data, February 2023.
**based on unaudited management accounts.

Substantial accomplishments to date

Not that we like to brag, but:

Monetisation strategy

THIS™ is on a mission to shatter meat-eaters' preconceptions of plant-based food, one rasher or nugget at a time. THIS™ products are now available in over 24,000 grocery stores across the UK.

Almost all of the brand's restaurant partners co-brand, which means they find it beneficial to call out THIS™ on their menus.

THIS™ is also listed with major wholesalers too, including Bidfood, Brakes, Wholegood, Blakemore, and VegExpress which supply to hotels, pubs, cafes, caterers, restaurants and independent shops, and rapid delivery retailers nationwide.

As well as aiming to massively increase distribution, THIS™ is also investing heavily into building a formidable innovation engine within the company as well as to drive towards profitability, so that they can deliver loads more plant-based innovation to the category such as a minimally processed wholefood-based range.

Use of proceeds

Topline aims are to accelerate international growth, grow brand awareness & drive manufacturing efficiency. This investment will be used for:

- Planet-based plant-based: help support further internationalisation alongside distribution within the Netherlands.

- Brand awareness: facilitate awareness driving campaigns in the UK and beyond.

- Innovation & manufacturing: THIS™ plans to invest in manufacturing equipment to bring lasting efficiency savings to several product lines.

- NPD: Support the launch of the new whole-food based and minimally processed range, in late 2024/early 2025.

Key Information

CLA Key Terms:

Investments in this Campaign will be made under an Convertible Loan Agreement (CLA), the key terms of which are as follows:
• Discount: 15%
• Valuation Cap: N/A
• Interest rate: 5% per annum, paid in cash
• Longstop date: 18 months
• Default Share Price: £83.8355

The CLA will convert into equity or be repaid as a loan on the following events:

Conversion:

Triggers:
The CLA will convert into equity as follows:

• automatically on
- an equity raise of £2m or more (‘Qualifying Financing’)
- any change of control or asset sale (‘Exit’)

• at each lender’s election on
- any raise under £2m but greater than £50k (‘Non-Qualifying Financing’)
- passing of the Longstop date (‘Maturity’)

Conversion price:
• Qualified Financings, Non-Qualified Financings and Exits: the share price will be equal to the lowest share price in the round / exit, less the Discount
• Maturity: the share price will be the Default Share Price above.

Share class:
• Qualified and Non-Qualified Financings: the most senior share class issued as part of the trigger raise
• Exits & Maturity Date: Series B Preferred Shares

Repayment:
• The loans (with interest) will be repaid on either an event of default (winding up / ceasing to trade etc).

Share Classes:

The Company has four classes of shares; Ordinary Shares, Series A Preferred Shares, Series B Preferred Shares and Growth Shares.

The share class that investors receive on conversion of their investments in this convertible round will depend on what triggers conversion.

Series A Preferred Shares and Series B Preferred Shares shares rank equally and carry a 1x non-participating preference.

Liquidation Preference:
On an exit or liquidation, the holders of Series A and B preference shares will receive their initial investment back first (or an amount that's proportionate to their respective investments if there are insufficient funds to return their investment back in full).

The remaining proceeds will then be distributed amongst all Ordinary Shareholders, save that no Growth Shareholders will receive any amount unless each Ordinary Shareholder receives at least £80.72 per ordinary share.

The Series A and B Preferred Shareholders will have the option to convert their Preferred Shares into Ordinary Shares.

Material Debt:

The company has the following oustanding debt facilities:

1. £5m loan facility was provided by Kreos Capital at an interest rate of 9.5% per annum, in March 2023. The loan also has a warrant instrument attached to it which means shares will be issued to Kreos in the future. The loan is to be fully repaid by January 2026.

2. £3.5M asset based lending facility with Cynergy Finance secured against the Company's trade debtor book. The Company can draw down on the facility at any time as required. The net drawdown position on the facility incurs an interest charge equal to the Bank of England Base Rate plus 2.5%. The minimum term is 24 months from February 2024.

The funds raised in this round will not be used to repay this debt.

CEO Hire:

Co-founders Andy and Pete have taken a step back from their previous roles as co-CEOs to make room for Mark Cuddigan who has recently joined the company as CEO. Andy and Pete are currently working closely with Mark to get up to speed in the role.

Open an account to get access to the team members of THIS™

Sign up

Already have an account? Log in

To comply with financial regulations, we can only show full campaign details to registered users.

Only shareholders can access this page

If you successfully purchase a share lot of this business, you will be granted access.

Buy shares

Only shareholders can access this page

If you successfully purchase a share lot of this business, you will be granted access.

Buy shares

Only shareholders can access this page

If you successfully purchase a share lot of this business, you will be granted access.

Buy shares

Only shareholders can access this page

If you successfully purchase a share lot of this business, you will be granted access.

Buy shares

Share on:

Investing involves risks, including loss of capital, illiquidity, lack of dividends and dilution, and should be done only as part of a diversified portfolio. Please read the Risk Warnings before investing. Investments should only be made by investors who understand these risks. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and is subject to change in future.

This campaign for THIS™ has been approved by Seedrs Limited (trading as Republic Europe) ("Republic Europe", "us" or "we"), as of 1 March 2024 as a financial promotion. Republic Europe is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority with firm reference number 550317. In approving this campaign, Republic Europe has concluded that the information, taken as a whole, is "fair, clear and not misleading." This means that for factual statements we have reviewed evidence of their accuracy, and that for aspirational statements we believe they are phrased appropriately in light of their speculative nature. You should note that in the case of factual statements, the evidence we review is provided by the business, and we do not audit it, which means that we may not be able to identify forged or altered evidence. You should further note that in the case of aspirational statements, the nature of the type of businesses presented on the Republic Europe platform is such that they are likely to have high ambitions, and we may approve statements that convey those ambitions even where we do not believe, or we do not have a view on whether it is likely, that they will be fully realised. The pre-money valuation and investment sought in the campaign are those set by the business: they are not reviewed or established by us, and the valuation is not an independent view of what the business is worth. Given the nature and type of businesses presented on the Republic Europe platform, it is possible that the business has very little cash remaining prior to receiving this investment, and the investment sought may be necessary for the business's on-going existence.

Republic Europe does not make investment recommendations to you. No communications from Republic Europe, through this website or any other medium, should be construed as an investment recommendation. Further, nothing on this website shall be considered an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security to any person in any jurisdiction to whom or in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful. Republic Europe does not provide legal, financial or tax advice of any kind. If you have any questions with respect to legal, financial or tax matters relevant to your interactions with Republic Europe, you should consult a professional adviser.

Tax Relief (SEIS)

This business is eligible for SEIS relief - providing qualifying investors with income tax relief of 50% of their investment and certain other tax reliefs. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and is subject to change in future. Click to learn more.

Tax Relief (EIS)

This business is eligible for EIS relief - providing qualifying investors with income tax relief of 30% of their investment and certain other tax reliefs. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and is subject to change in future. Click to learn more.

Valuation (pre-money)

Valuation rounded from Convertible

This is the fully-diluted pre-money valuation of the business (i.e. before the new investment comes in and including issued options and other equity interests). In contrast, the post-money valuation is based on inclusion of the new investment in the value.

It is calculated as the pre-money valuation plus the amount of new investment. e.g. If Company A is ascribed a pre-money valuation of £1,200,000 by prospective investors investing £300,000, its post-money valuation is £1,500,000.

The investee business is responsible for setting its own valuation, it has not been prescribed by Seedrs.

Pitch type

Investing in a convertible campaign allows you to invest today, with your investment converting into equity in the future, at a discount compared to other investors.

Learn more about pitch type on Seedrs

Equity Offered

The equity offered is the percentage of the company’s shares being issued in return for the amount of investment raised.

When the amount raised is less than 100%, the equity offered is based on the target raise. Once the company has raised over 100% it is based on the total raised.

In some scenarios, entrepreneurs may accept additional direct investment after closing their Seedrs campaign. Provided this is within 6 months of the closing and on the same terms, we do not typically offer pre-emption rights on that extra investment (where you have the opportunity to invest again to maintain your percentage shareholding).

Learn more about investing and pre-emption rights.

Nominee investment

This shows if you are able to choose, when making an investment, that you be represented by, and your shareholding be managed by, the Nominee investment.

Find out more

Custodian

If you invest in this Campaign, Seedrs will act as Custodian rather than provide our standard nominee service. This is due to the fact that the business is not directly involved in the share sale and Seedrs will not benefit from any rights under a shareholder agreement. As a result, Seedrs will handle administrative tasks as we do normally, but you will not have information or voting rights, updates from the business, preemption on future fundraising, or ongoing support about business trading activity.

Learn more about Custodian here

Secondary market

This shows if the business has opted-in or opted-out of allowing its shares to be bought and sold on the secondary market.

Find out more

Direct investment

This is an option to invest and hold shares 'directly' in the company (rather than via the Nominee investment). This option is only available to those investing over the threshold amount, which is determined by the fundraising company.

If you choose to hold your shares directly, you will be responsible for any contractual or administrative arrangements with the company you are investing in.

Find out more

Payment options

We are not able to accept card payments for investments into this sector. You can pay for your investment by creating a bank transfer, using funds in your investment account or create a Pay by Bank payment. Your investment will only be completed once the funds have reached our account.

Business Involvement

This Campaign offers shares for sale in business that is not directly involved in this Campaign or the sale. As a result, the Campaign and post-investment experience, including investor rights, will differ from a business-led campaign on Seedrs. Most notably, the business will not engage with investors in the discussion forums both during and after the sale or provide any updates to investors.

Learn more here

Payment options

We are not able to accept Pay by Bank payments for investments into this sector. You can pay for your investment with a card payment, by creating a bank transfer or by using funds in your investment account. Your investment will only be completed once the funds have reached our account.

Drawdowns

This campaign offers the ability to pay for an investment by drawdowns.

Security Token

A security token is a digital asset that represents ownership or other rights. It is a digital form of traditional investments. In the future, you may be able to trade your investment through compatible exchanges.

Warning

You are following a link outside of europe.republic.com.

None of the information in constitutes part of the campaign and it has not been approved or reviewed by Seedrs.

ContinueCancel