London-based DELLI bags €5.4M from Balderton, HV Capital, others

London-based DELLI, an independent food and drink platform, announced on Thursday that it has secured $6M (approximately €5.4M) in a Seed extension round.

The funding round was led by existing investors Balderton and HV Capital, alongside Simon Beckerman, DELLI’s founder and Chief Creative Officer.

The company will use the funds to expand its offering of independent products, launch more exclusive drops, and build tools to help more independent food and drink sellers start and expand businesses on DELLI.

Marie Petrovicka, CEO of DELLI, says, “We see a mega trend in the way food is consumed. Buyers are stepping away from overprocessed, mass-produced food to small-batch, independently-made products. They want to discover new food with a story behind it. With DELLI, we are excited to continue giving space to these makers and building a platform that will give buyers easy access to the new generation of unique and independent sellers, making shopping for food inspiring and fun!”

“On the seller side, DELLI is developing tools that allow the small batch producers to start and grow their business and connect with buyers easily, helping overcome some of the big roadblocks they face in the current system dominated by supermarkets. We can’t wait to bring more real food to more people all across the UK,” adds Petrovicka.

DELLI: Independent food and drink platform

The idea behind DELLI is based on the belief that “food is the new fashion.”

The company says food has surpassed fashion in popularity on social media, with new generations exploring food more than ever in the digital world.

Consequently, the UK company is grasping this trend by offering the next generation of buyers a new way to shop for food.

It draws cues from fashion, leveraging strategies such as exclusive drops and influencer collaborations to reinvent the way food is sold.

In the past months, the UK company has partnered with Ravneet Gill, Ben Lippett, Jackson Boxer, James Cochrane, and Sam Grainger, to name a few.

Focusing on curation,the company allows buyers to discover and buy food from independent food makers in an inspiring way, delivering products that used to be available only locally all across the UK.

The company is bringing the best local independent makers to buyers all across the UK.

The company is now doubling down on expanding its maker base regionally too, working on local partnerships in key cities.

For example, Manchester’s cult bakery, Pollen, recently launched their croissant butter for the first time exclusively on DELLI, selling out twice in less than a week.

Further regional partnerships are underway in cities such as Bristol, Edinburgh, and Birmingham.

As per the company’s claims, it has recorded 16X year-on-year growth.

Since its launch in early 2022, more than 500 makers have dropped their products on DELLI, and the team curates the best selection for the community every single day.

From microbakers to pickle purveyors, small-batch olive oil producers, and drink makers, the company is stocked with the niche and the essentials.

Simon Beckerman, Chief Creative Office and Co-founder at DELLI: “I’m excited to support the growing community of creative food makers who are reshaping the way we experience food. DELLI is here to give these independent producers a platform to share their passion and story, making it easier for buyers to discover and enjoy unique, small-batch products that truly stand out.”

The investor

Balderton Capital is a venture capital firm focused exclusively on backing European-founded startups. 

Daniel Waterhouse, General Partner at Balderton Capital, said “Since stepping into the CEO role, Marie has taken DELLI’s growth to the next level, and the momentum is remarkable. Doubling down on our investment was a no-brainer, and I’m excited for what’s to come. DELLI has been one step ahead of shifting consumer behaviours around food and drink, and as more and more people opt for quality, independent craftsmanship over mass-produced and ultra-processed products, I have no doubt DELLI’s growth will continue to soar.”