Northern Pasta expands spelt production after Dragons’ Den deal

Northern Pasta Co is expanding its demand for British-grown spelt after opening a new 1,114sq m pasta production facility in Lancashire.

The Carnforth-based business plans to increase production substantially from its new factory, while growing its network of UK spelt growers supplying the operation.

See also: Young couple’s pasta start-up champions 100% British spelt

The investment follows an appearance on BBC One’s Dragons’ Den on 17 September, where founders Imogen Royall and Matt Kenyon secured a £50,000 investment from Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden in return for a 10% stake.

Matt Kenyon and Imogen Royall © BBC

Northern Pasta Co was founded in 2022 and initially produced about 300 bags a month from a market stall, equivalent to roughly 1.6t of pasta a year.

By the beginning of 2026, production had increased to 2.25t a week. The company is now targeting 13.5t a week, with the new factory designed to accommodate further expansion.

It is also aiming to exceed £1m turnover during 2026.

Supporting British spelt

The company produces pasta from regeneratively grown British spelt, using bronze extrusion and slow-drying methods.

As production increases, the business said it intends to source from more British spelt growers, providing another market for the crop and supporting farmers seeking alternatives to conventional commodity cropping.

Its factory workforce has increased from four to 10 employees during the past year, with investment also made in new pasta-making machinery.

Co-founder Imogen Royall said: “We’re on a mission to make the best pasta in the world, and we’ve just built the home to do it in.

“What took us a whole year on the market stall, we now make in a week – and soon, we’ll make in a single day what once took us the best part of two years.”