Soul Kitchen, the plant-based instant soup brand, has won investment on BBC's Dragons' Den, with founder Bella Acland accepting £40,000 for 15% of the business from entrepreneur and Tropic Skincare founder Susie Ma.
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The deal caps a fast run of growth. Since the episode was filmed last year, Soul Kitchen says sales have risen more than 920%, with nearly half a million soups sold and distribution now spanning more than 100 independent stockists across the UK. The brand has also landed a listing with Eurostar, launched its functional Soul Kitchen+ range and moved manufacturing to a site in Shropshire through a tie-up with nutrition brand Purition.
"Growing up, I never missed an episode of Dragons' Den, so standing in the Den with Soul Kitchen felt like a genuine full-circle moment," said Acland.
Launched in March 2024, the brand pitches premium instant soups made from real vegetable powders with no artificial ingredients, and says it is on track to sell a million products this year.
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