Paul Lindley

Paul had professional experience with children’s brands and was raising his family, but he’d never started a business. Stuck for something fun, healthy and convenient to feed his kids, he knew there was a business to be created that would fill a gap in the market and create a market in that gap.

Paul Lindley

Paul Lindley had the idea to start a business while on a camping holiday with his children. Stuck for something fun, healthy and convenient to feed his kids, the seed was planted and he knew there was a business to be created that would fill a gap in the market – and create a market in that gap.

‘I went about it by scoping my ideas out on a piece of paper. That evolved into a brand and financial plan of how I could grow the business’, Paul says.

Paul had professional experience with children’s brands and was raising his family, but he’d never started a business, or gone for it alone.  He was confident in what he knew and sought advice in the areas he didn’t know, including food industry experts. He welcomed advice from all quarters and they helped him ground a thought-through strategy.

Today Ella’s Kitchen is a thriving business: ‘We’re in a fantastic position now where every second of every day someone is having one of our Ella’s kitchen products’.

From a standing start with no brand, no revenue and no customers at the start of 2006, revenues have doubled every year to around £31 million this year and the company now has 45 employees. As a fast-growing company, Paul sees export as a great way to de-risk small business. ‘We’ve grown through export and by establishing new markets across the globe, from Sweden and Norway, to Australia, and by establishing a subsidiary in the US.’

Paul says ‘Many markets are growing significantly now and people are ready for great British products from great British brands’.

Where next?

  • Help with Exporting
    Advice on thinking through the finance, skills and regulatory issues associated with exporting
  • Employ new staff
    Help with taking on staff or apprentices
  • Getting started
    The videos, case studies and tutorials to take you through the process of starting a business.
  • Advice for Growing Businesses
    Tools to help you diagnose and solve business problems, search for events in your area, business discussions and other services.