Neyba launches £15m fundraise to aid expansion across London: Neyba, the “multi-cuisine kitchen and grocer” concept from Burger & Lobster founder Misha Zelman, is looking to raise £15m, to underpin plans to expand across London. The concept, which sees well-known chefs collaborate on a multi-cuisine menu in one place, opened its first site in London’s Westbourne Grove, earlier this year. It has now launched a £15m Series A funding round, with plans to get to 14 sites across the capital including in Chelsea, Clapham, Hampstead, Islington, Wimbledon Village and Dulwich. Zelman partnered with former Harrods and Heston Blumenthal marketing lead Ben Hedley, to launch Neyba, and the company said since launch it has seen “huge success with strong financial growth and a growing team of people with its premium, yet affordable offering”. Partnered chefs include Tony Singh (south and north Indian curries), Miguel Barclay (Miguel’s Pizza) and Yoko Nakada (Makes Miso Hungry), while an exclusive cook-at-home Japanese dish has been created by Endo Kazotushi for takeaway and delivery. Having struck a partnership deal with Deliveroo, Neyba also offers any of the chef’s dishes, or the dishes’ ingredients, for delivery. An integral proportion of the investment will also see Neyba launch a tech-ecosystem, which will include a customer facing app. The company said this would give the brand lower costs, efficiencies, and greater flexibility on its offering. The business said: “This tech will be used to ensure that Neyba can offer innovative services that will give customers superior opportunities to reduce their food waste and save time. The ‘smart kitchens’ have been designed and supported by proprietary tech that gives the brand the ability to cook up to eight cuisines from one kitchen, with minimal labour, that will accommodate various levels of skill and reduce wastage. Each dish on the menu can be fully prepared in under six minutes. All dishes, packaging and processes have been designed specifically with delivery in mind ensuring that the customer has the best quality experience, every single time.” Zelman said: “What a journey this has already been for Neyba and the family we have built. This investment round will ensure the Neyba brand is at the forefront of food and the future of food consumption. We’ve partnered with some of the country’s most forward-thinking chefs and producers to create an offering unlike anything else you can find.” Hedley said: “Seeing Neyba grow in west London is really thrilling and we are now ready to bring the concept to every corner of London. We’ve built a solid team that has developed and delivered an offering that we’re very proud of and think Londoners are now ready for this. We can’t wait to see Neyba grow over the next 12 months and bring delicious tasting food and our unique offering to millions of people across London.”