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Business
with dorsetbiznews.co.uk
Milestone as broth business that began with one slow cooker moves into first factory unit
By Andrew Diprose
A broth business is set to double production overnight after securing its first factory unit in Shillingstone.
Mother of two Rachel Down started Boil & Broth in her small kitchen with one slow cooker five years ago.
She had become dissatisfied with the pharmaceutical drugs prescribed for a variety of health issues.
After carrying out her own research into the cause of seemingly endless infections, Rachel not only cured herself within 12 weeks but also lost two and a half stone in weight, followed by a further four stone.
The 42-year-old discovered how certain foods helped her health issues, and started to make bone broth – essentially boiled bones – as well as following a strict candida diet, which she designed herself.
Rachel found that her broth, home-made kefir water and other supplements resolved her health and digestive issues.
She launched Boil & Broth as a limited company in 2018 after people suffering similar health issues contacted her for help and advice.
Rachel, of Lytchett Matravers, said: “I used to sell broth soup to friends and family.
“They kept coming back, bringing more people with them, so I had to cook more.
“Initially I set up 10 slow cookers in our home kitchen, but demand outgrew that set-up.
“We moved to a bigger house to cook more and that’s when I changed to pressure cookers.
“After 16 months, we had to move again to cope with the demand for our products. Now I’ve signed to move into an industrial unit that will become our factory.”
The 3,000 sq ft factory, at Shillingstone, will allow Boil & Broth to instantly double production with the installation of larger cooking equipment.
By this time next year it hopes to have tripled production.
It couldn’t come at a better time. Boil & Broth is now sold across the UK and Ireland in more than 80 locations and has just landed its first deal in Dubai.
Last year the business expanded into the pet-food market, becoming the only broth manufacturer to hold a dual licence to produce bone broth for pets and humans. In January it launched its bone broth powder for pets, instantly going viral.
Boil & Broth is now to split its business into two – one for humans and the other for pets.
Each will have their own website and separate social media accounts.
Rachel said: “This change will enable us to continue to grow our businesses into different markets, helping people and pets with their health.
“We stepped into the pet-food industry after being frequently asked if our products were okay for dogs.
“There are no vegetables in our broth. We add more bones, and it’s the proteins in the bones that offer nutritious goodness for the body, especially collagen.
“Everything we sell for pets has been made for humans.”
In another significant move, Rachel’s husband, Simon, is to join the business full-time as its new Factory Manager.
Already a Director, along with Rachel, he’ll join Deborah Cole, Kitchen Assistant.
“It’s a big leap of faith but the right one at the right time,” said Rachel.
“After four years of organic growth we are really experiencing a big increase in demand, particularly in the raw pet-food industry.
“In the coming weeks, we’ll be opening up our Shillingstone factory with an open day offering free cups of broth for customers and a chance for us to share the healthy benefits of all our products.”
Find out more at www. boilandbroth.com.
