Plant-Ex Ingredients, the Bristol-based manufacturer of natural food ingredients, is aiming for significant international expansion after securing a £9m minority investment from growth finance group BGF.
Founded in 2010 and today employing more than 110 people, Plant-Ex supplies food manufacturers in more than 50 countries across the world directly through its own facilities and via a network of distribution partners. 
The firm develops, makes and distributes natural food colours, extracts and flavours, with a product range that includes antimicrobials and preservatives for the bakery and confectionery sectors, are used in dairy, icing, seasonings and vegan cheese.
The BGF investment follows a £3.3m funding package from Lloyds Bank last year which Plant-Ex used to invest in an additional production line to increase output and purchase additional resources.
This included expanding its Avonmouth factory last month, which doubled the capacity of its previous site, and developing its existing plants in Poland and Turkey. 
The firm has also placed special focus on the US market following the launch of operations in Chicago earlier this year.
Alongside BGF’s investment, Plant-Ex’s leadership team has also been bolstered with the appointment of highly experienced non-executive chair Susan Barratt to its board through BGF’s talent network.
Susan has deep experience of the food and consumer goods industry, having worked with the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) and the Department of Health and Social Care.
Plant-Ex founder and CEO Giles Drewett, pictured, said: “It’s a huge privilege to be working in partnership with BGF and to welcome Susan to our board. 
“Plant-Ex has an exceptional portfolio of products with some world-beating expertise in product development and manufacturing.
“Having the funds in place combined with strategic support from BGF and Susan means that the next major developments can be planned and executed to deliver against the high standards expected by our international customer base.”
BGF investor James Skade, pictured, who was supported in the deal by Edwin Davies and Louis Hall, added: “The rate at which Giles and the team have been able to grow Plant-Ex in a relatively short space of time is testament to their passion and hard work.
“As Giles and his team look to expand further into international markets, there’s a huge amount of positive impact they can have on consumers, in terms of providing natural, sustainable colours, flavours and extracts in the global marketplace, and we look forward helping them fulfil their objectives.”
Legal advisers for BGF were corporate partner James Taylor and associate Oli Jacquelin from the Bristol office of Osborne Clarke, while Robert Brown, partner in the Bristol office of Claritas provided tax advice.
Commercial advice was supplied by Tim Owen, Oliver North, James Barton of London-based corporate finance advice firm Oghma Partners.
BGF, the largest and most experienced investor in the UK and Ireland, has invested more than £600m in South West businesses since it opened in Bristol in 2011.
