Cook Trading
| Private | |
| Industry | Retailer |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Headquarters | Sittingbourne |
|
Key people
|
Edward Perry, Founder and Managing Director Dale Penfold, Founder |
| Products | food |
| Website | www.cookfood.net |
Cook Trading Ltd (stylised as COOK) is a manufacturer and retailer of frozen ready meals, established in 1997 and based in Sittingbourne, Kent.
Their meals are cooked without the use of artificial additives and preservatives in their kitchen in Sittingbourne and primarily sold through their own Cook shops, mainly situated in affluent market towns across the South East of England; over 300 farm shops and other independent retailers throughout the UK; and also online through their website. In 2009 they also started to expand as a franchise business with the majority of new stores opening as franchises.
Products
Cook's core range of frozen meals comes in portion sizes of 1, 2 and 4, which are cooked by chefs in their kitchen in Sittingbourne. They also make a range of party food, puddings (made in Dorset by an exclusive supplier) and a range of kids' meals (launched in 2006). They also stock frozen cakes, organic baby food and some ambient products.
In June 2011 Cook launched their first range specifically designed with lunch in mind - their One Pots.
History
Cook was founded as 'Cakes and Casseroles' in 1997 by Edward Perry and Dale Penfold. Their first kitchen was opened in Gillingham, with the first shop opening in Farnham soon after. They began working with their pudding supplier, Liz Dove, in July 1997 and within 9 months she supplied them exclusively. The company was renamed as 'Cook' in 1999 and having outgrown the original kitchen it moved to a new site in Sittingbourne in 2000. By 2005 they had a total of 16 shops and they won the ‘Rising Star of the Year 2005’ at the Retail Week Awards and 'Best Retailer for Vegetarian Ready-meals' at the Vegetarian Society Awards [1]
In 2006 the website www.cookfood.net was launched, enabling home delivery across the UK. This year the company also re-branded and won The Grocer Gold Award for 'Best Independent Retailer Chain'.
In 2007 they launched the wholesale business, which now supplies over 300 farm shops and independent food companies around the UK. In March Cook commenced building work on a £2.5million development for a new production facility in Sittingbourne which opened in October 2007.
In 2009 Cook began to franchise and in June 2010, they won the 'Express Newspapers Brand Builder award' at the British Franchise Association HSBC Franchisor of the Year awards.[2]
Partnerships
Cook products are also supplied to Manx retailer Shoprite and Booths supermarkets in the North of England.
