Cornwall-based children’s non-fiction publisher Hungry Tomato has secured additional funding to grow its team, launch new titles and expand internationally.
The company received its first loan of £84,000 from the South West Investment Fund via SWIG Finance in 2023, when it had four employees and a turnover of £350,000. Today, Hungry Tomato has 12 staff and is on track for a 2026 turnover of £2m.
A second loan of £100,000 was approved this year, supporting the creation of more books and further business growth, with over 100 new titles planned for next year.
Managing director Sharon Twiggs said: “The South West Investment Fund was a lifeline for us. Banks are less likely to value intellectual property as security, but it’s worth more than anything else in our business. Without the funding, we would still have been skimming along, doing a third of the business we are now.”
The South West Investment Fund, launched by the British Business Bank in 2023, provides loans of £25,000 to £2m and equity investments up to £5m to small and medium-sized businesses across the South West. SWIG Finance manages the smaller loans, offering both funding and support to regional businesses.
Sharon and her husband John, both publishing veterans, founded Hungry Tomato in 2015. They moved from Kent to Cornwall in 2019 and now operate from Old Bakery Studios in Truro, employing a team of authors and graphic designers.
Rachel Thomson, business manager at SWIG Finance, said: “The books Hungry Tomato produce are wonderful, and I’m glad we were able to support them in their journey to make children’s books inspiring and accessible.”
David Tindall, senior investment manager at the British Business Bank, added: “This further investment demonstrates how the fund can support businesses at every stage of their journey. What began as a small regional publishing house is now becoming a global player in children’s non-fiction, creating jobs and exporting creativity from the South West to the world.”
