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John Stapleton
John Stapleton co-founded the New Covent Garden Soup Co., which created fresh chilled soup, and later co-founded Little Dish. He now backs young food companies.
About John
John co-founded the New Covent Garden Soup Company in the 1980s with Andrew Palmer, to make fresh chilled soup: a category that didn't exist until they created it. By the time it was sold in 1998 it was turning over about £22m, and it remains one of Britain's best-known food brands.
In 2005 he co-founded Little Dish with Hilary Graves, making fresh meals for toddlers with nothing artificial added. It was sold to Profile Capital in 2017.
Irish by birth and a food scientist by training, John now works as an investor, director, mentor and adviser to young food companies.
At a glance
- Co-founded New Covent Garden Soup Co.; sold in 1998
- Co-founded Little Dish, 2005; sold in 2017
- Investor and adviser to food start-ups
John in Helm's guides
Sources
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