Metcalfe's Food Company

Metcalfe's Food Company was a privately owned food business founded in 2009 by Julian Metcalfe, the founder of the sandwich chain, Pret A Manger, and Robert Jakobi. Metcalfe's Food Company sold products under two brands Metcalfes Skinny and Itsu Grocery.^[1]

Metcalfe's Food Company

Company type	Private
Industry	Retail
Founded	2010
Headquarters	London, England
Products	Snack foods

The company was acquired in 2024 by SpartanNash, a food solutions company.^[2]

History

Julian Metcalfe founded Metcalfe's Food in 2009 as a way to sell popcorn and healthier food snacks to food service outlets. A year later Robert Jakobi joined the company as managing director.^[3]

Robert Jakobi introduced chocolate covered edamame to the United Kingdom market in 2010 and sold them initially under his own ‘Pod bites’.^[4] He sought a bigger platform for the product and merged ‘Pod bites’ into Metcalfe's Food Company and become the managing director in October 2010.^[1]

In 2015, the company split into two brands.^[5] 'Itsu grocery' became a part of the Itsu business and Metcalfes Skinny became a standalone business.^[5]

Kettle Foods acquired a 26% interest in Metcalfe's Skinny in January 2016 and in October of that same year purchased the remaining 74%.^[6]

In April 2024, SpartanNash announced it had acquired Metcalfe's.^[7]

Recognition

In December 2013, Metcalfe's Food Company were featured as one of ten ‘Ones to Watch’ in the Sunday Times Fast Track 100.^[8] The Fast Track 100 ranks the fastest-growing privately owned companies in the UK.^[9]

In April 2014, Robert Jakobi along with Julian Metcalfe were named as London & South finalists for the 2014 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.^[10]

In May 2014, Metcalfe's Food Company was announced as one of the winners of The Santander Breakthrough 50 Awards. The awards celebrate the UK's top 50 most exciting fast-growth companies.^[11]

In December 2014, Metcalfe's Food Company was ranked at number 4 in the Sunday Times Fast Track 100.^[12]