Ella’s Kitchen
Paul & Alison Lindley
Paul Lindley
Paul launched Ella’s Kitchen in 2006. With the support of his wife and co-founder, Alison Lindley, the company has grown to become a leading baby and kids food brand. Turnover this year will have reached over £8 million. The company, based just outside Henley-on-Thames, has grown from Paul working at home on his own just a couple of years ago to now employing a team of 15 people.
Born in Sheffield, Paul grew up in Zambia, before going on to study at Bristol University. Paul went on to train and qualify as a chartered accountant at KPMG in London and Los Angeles. He then spent 9 years at Nickelodeon – the kid’s television brand – where he rose from Financial Controller to Deputy Managing Director via the roles of Finance Director, Commercial Director, Communications Director and General Manager.
During these formative years at Nickelodeon, Paul’s interest in children’s issues grew and developed. It was the birth of his daughter – Ella – that led to the creation of Ella’s Kitchen. Recognising a gap in the children’s food market, Paul gave up his job at Nickelodeon in 2004 to embark on a research mission. Investigating the worlds of grocery retail, food manufacturing and the FMCG industry allowed Paul to conclude that Ella’s Kitchen would not only be a viable but essential addition to the existing market.
Paul lives in Reading, Berkshire with his wife and business partner, Alison, and their two children, Ella and Patrick.
Alison Lindley
Alison Lindley is a co-founder, together with her husband Paul Lindley, of the fastest growing baby and kids food brand Ella’s Kitchen. Launched in 2006, Ella’s Kitchen now employs a team of 15 people with an annual turnover of over £8 million. Having been a ‘behind the scenes’ Director of Ella’s Kitchen for a while, Alison has recently assumed the position of ‘Head of Giving Stuff Back’ spearheading the company’s ethical concerns, charitable endeavours and public affairs work championing healthy kids.
Prior to her pivotal role in assuring the establishment, growth and development of Ella’s Kitchen, Alison worked for the Consumers’ Association for over eight years as a qualified solicitor. At the Consumers’ Association, her remit covered a wide range of interests including consumer legislation, health and nutrition issues and consumer redress.
Alison also has a background in publishing having set up ‘Families’ magazine franchise which she distributed across the Thames Valley. The publication covered a wide spectrum of parenting issues, as well as providing essential local information for Thames Valley families.
Now living in Reading, Berkshire with husband and co-founder Paul and their two children Ella and Patrick, Alison invaluably brings a wealth of experience and knowledge – both first hand and professional – to their highly successful business venture.
Ella’s Kitchen
Ella’s Kitchen is borne out of a desire to create truly natural and organic products that are just for kids. Their vision is to cultivate positive attitudes towards healthy eating which in turn create healthy eating habits that will last children a lifetime. By approaching business from a ‘child’s eye view’, they have created a fun and accessible brand that children love and parents trust. The range of products includes Baby Brekkie, Stage 1, 2 + 3 baby food and Smoothie Fruits – available in all the UK major multiples and in over 1,000 independent stores. International distribution so far includes Scandinavia, UAE, Australia, Ireland and, later this year, the USA.
Awards:
2010 The Grocer Gold Award – Food & Drink Brand of the Year
2009 Growing Buisness Awards – Customer Excellence Award
2009 IGD Food Industry Awards – Morrisions Award for Most Outstanding Small Business
2008 National Business Awards – Consumer Focused Business of the Year from the South East
2008 The Grocer’s Top Launch of the Year
2006 Start Ups Award – Micro Business of the Year
2006 IGD Food Industry Awards - Best Consumer Insight, Highly Commended
2006 Campaign Media Awards – Best Grocery Marketing Campaign
2009 Shortlist
Campaign Media Awards
