Why we invested in Snackzilla

By Paddy Willis

We recently invested in the healthier cookie brand, Snackzilla. Marieke, the brands' founder, has taken her Grandmother's recipe for soft cookies and adapted them to be 50% lower in sugar than other brands. 

But why did Batch Ventures, our partnership with leading bakers Warburtons, invest in Snackzilla? 

People

You can change a product or tweak a brand, but it is tough to change a person. From our first meeting with Marieke we felt she had what it takes to succeed in business. The brand's product quality and market value had already been proven as a member of our inaugural Good Food Fund accelerator programme, which aims to help make healthier options more available to all families. As investors, we want to work with good people and throughout the investment process, Marieke was clear-minded, professional and coachable which are all good signs of a successful entrepreneur.

Product

Snackzilla products are tasty and their vegan credentials extend their reach across the shopper community. Their soft texture is immediately appealing and the wholegrain oats make them high in fibre. Production is in the UK with artisan bakers and it shows in the quality of the finished product. Plus kids genuinely go wild for them, as did the management team at Warburtons!

Timing and opportunity

The snacks are compliant with the new HFSS regulations that come into force this October, making them immediately appealing to retail buyers looking to ensure their range includes healthier products. The mainstream brands will still struggle to adapt their recipes, allowing brands such as Snackzilla to win their place on the shelf. 

As an early investor, we have a high chance of helping to accelerate Snackzilla and support their ambitions of building a national brand. With our partner Warburtons being a trusted family food brand that consistently delivers on quality, our investments should match these standards. In the future, brands like Snackzilla could offer a natural range extension, bringing fresh usage occasions and new consumers to the fold.

If you are working on a brand that you think might be interesting to Batch Ventures, check out our Batch Ventures page for more details.