Lune & Wild raises €2.3 million to scale female-founded, chef-led baby and children’s food brand

Lune & Wild, a London-based baby and children’s food brand, has raised €2.3 million (£2 million) in a Series A funding round to scale production and expand its retail footprint. 

The round was led by Guinness Ventures, with support from industry experts including Dr. Rupy Aujla and Doug Struthers (Chairperson of Lune & Wild and ex-MD of Ella’s Kitchen). Existing investors in the brand include Charlie Gardiner (Our House, formerly Little Houses Group), Siân Parry Jones (co-founder of Archer Street Cocktail Bar) and Harry Bloice, ex-Commercial Director at Butternut Box.

Lara Rodgers, co-founder of Lune & Wild, commented, “From day one, we’ve believed that children deserve better food. Food that’s full of flavour, made with care, and genuinely supports their development. This investment allows us to take our mission and products further, without compromising on the quality and craft that got us here.”

Lune & Wild was founded in 2021 by cousins Lara Rodgers and Nadia Simonds. The duo shared a common frustration that baby and children’s food had for too long been an afterthought, high in ‘free’ sugars, lacking the flavour, variety and nutrition. 

The company offers chef-crafted recipes, specialist paediatric nutrition and “exceptional” sourcing of ingredients. It aims to raise the standard of what children eat, from their very first bite.

Rodgers is a mother and trained chef, with experience cooking for celebrities and working in renowned kitchens like The Ritz and The Newt. Her cousin Simonds came to the brand through personal experience. When she became a mother in 2019 and started weaning her child, Lara’s frozen cubes of home-cooked food proved to be a crucial help. Having worked with ethical food brands and sustainability leaders, Nadia saw a market gap and her calling. They teamed up, resulting in Lune & Wild.

The company claims that the meals are made with high-quality organic produce and are developed with paediatric dietitians to optimise macro and micro nutrients, ensuring balanced protein, essential fats and carbohydrates. It has also partnered with Soil Association-certified suppliers for its produce and ensures the highest welfare meat.

Nadia Simonds, co-Founder of Lune & Wild, said, “We’ve built Lune & Wild in close conversation with parents, understanding the real challenges they face and creating food that genuinely helps. With Guinness Ventures and our existing investors behind us, we’re excited to scale that impact and reach many more families across the UK.”

The startup reports that it has doubled revenue every year since launch and sold over one million meals in the last 12 months alone. The brand holds a 4.8-star Trustpilot rating. The business also recently appointed Mike Hedges (ex-Little Moons CEO, GrowUp Farms CEO and Proper CEO) to its board.

With this fresh capital, Lune & Wild plans to significantly increase production capacity while maintaining its hands-on, chef-led approach. Investment will also be directed towards accelerating retail launches, including its recent Ocado.com listing, alongside marketing and key team hires.

Lune & Wild has a team of over 30 purpose-driven individuals, including mothers and grandmothers. The company offers flexibility, with remote working for head office team members to help them work around their childcare needs.

Lune & Wild is available through its direct-to-consumer channel and also on Ocado.com, which has surpassed sales forecasts since its launch last month. Additionally, their products can be found in family clubs, cafés, delis, farm shops, and in 15 nurseries located across London and the Home Counties.

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