Fast-growing Bristol-based Japanese street food firm Eatchu has received a £100,000 investment to drive further expansion.
The firm, best known for its gyoza, rice and noodles, secured the investment from alternative regional funder SWIG Finance to open its third venue on The Triangle in Clifton, pictured.
Eatchu was launched as a pop-up in 2016 by Guy and Victoria Siddall in Bristol’s historic St Nicholas Market, where it quickly became a popular lunchtime venue.
Three years later it set up a food preparation kitchen in St Philips and in 2022 expanded further with a street food unit at Bristol craft brewery Wiper and True’s 500-capacity taproom in Old Market.
The funding from SWIG Finance, a non-profit company supporting viable South West businesses that cannot secure sufficient finance from their bank, will help create up to six jobs this year as the new dine-in and takeaway outlet in Clifton becomes established.
It has come from the £200m South West Investment Fund, which was launched last July by the British Business Bank.
It covers the entire region and provides loans from £25,000 to £2m and equity investment up to £5m to help a range of small and medium sized businesses to start up, scale up or stay ahead.
Guy Siddall said: “Having successfully navigated our way through the pandemic, we are really pleased that demand for our street food is still strong.
“This new takeaway premises will widen our customer base quite significantly. However, the costs are high and so without South West Investment Fund support, this round of growth may not have been possible.”
SWIG senior business manager Nicola Parker added: “What Guy and Vic have achieved through Eatchu is a great example of how to start and scale a business.
“Despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic, this business continues to grow at a rapid pace.”
British Business Bank director UK and regional funds Jody Tableporter said: “The South West Investment Fund is here to help small businesses like Eatchu reach the next stage of growth and we’re delighted to be supporting Guy and Vic’s latest Bristol venture.”
The South West Investment Fund aims to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across the South West.
It will increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for the region’s smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and help to break down barriers in access to finance.
Eatchu was referred to SWIG Finance by commercial finance broker Jerry Riches, from Swansea-based asset finance broker Business Finance Trust.
