Gap Finders: Ed Perry and Rosie Brown from COOK

Available for over a year

In our Gap Finders interview today we meet the brother and sister duo behind the frozen ready meal company COOK. Ed Perry and Rosie Brown are joint Chief Commercial Officers of the food company which was founded in 1997. Ed and Rosie's parents ran cafes, that Ed and Rosie worked in, and made frozen cakes. Their mother's habit of batch cooking meals, and freezing half for mid-week dinners inspired them to create a company that made high quality frozen meals. The company has been in operation for more than 25 years now and has 98 shops across England, Wales and Scotland. It's best selling meals are Chicken, Ham and Leek Pie, and Lasagne. The company has a strong community minded ethos, and aims to treat employees, suppliers and the environment with respect. Choosing so far not to deal with the big 4 supermarkets because they don't want to drive down quality and cut corners. The business has had a lot to contend with in its 25 years history, including the 2008 recession and the war in Ukraine which has driven up ingredient costs and eroded their profit margins. Ed and Rosie talk to Winifred about the tough decisions they've made to keep the company going. PRESENTER: WINIFRED ROBINSON PRODUCER: LYDIA THOMAS