Gold Coast organic bakery Seeds of Life aims to raise $500k to support US export plan

A Gold Coast organic bakery is seeking to raise $500,000 from investors as it eyes exports to the lucrative US market.

A GOLD Coast organic bakery is seeking to raise $500,000 from investors as it eyes exports to the lucrative US market.

Seeds of Life was founded four years ago by former Bras N Things national marketing manager Heidi Wiltshire and former telecommunications executive Pete Wiltshire.

The business, which they call Australia’s first grain-free, gluten-free and sugar-free bakery, began with the pair taking 30 kilos of their now signature seed and nut loaf to the Marina Mirage Farmers Market.

It sold out in 90 minutes.

Four years later they are producing 3000kg of their products a month.

Pete and Heidi Wiltshire at their store at The Kitchens, Robina Town Centre. Photo: Jason O'Brien

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The massive growth (online sales grew 300 per cent in April) has brought its own problems.

Mr Wiltshire said they now need funds to expand with their 50 sqm bakery/shop at Robina Town Centre at maximum capacity.

“We can’t possibly manufacture any more,” he said.

“It is a big challenge and that is why we’re planning to raise capital through Equitise to fund the acquisition of a new commercial kitchen/factory so we can produce more product out of 1000sq m.”

They are looking to buy a factory/warehouse somewhere between Burleigh and Robina with the offer document through Equitise, a crowd-funding platform, to be finalised by the end of the month.

Investors will be able to invest between $250 and $10,000 in the bakery in return for equity.

Mr Wiltshire said they haven’t decided on the amount of equity they will give away but it would not be a majority stake.

Organic grain-free bakery, Seeds of Life, is based at the The Kitchens at Robina Robina Town Centre.

He said they considered going through more traditional fundraising methods but decided against it.

“We were approached in our first year by venture capitalists from Singapore and also Japan and we did a lot of homework on what they do,” he said.

“They are looking for a quick return. They can invest a lot of money and that might be attractive to a lot of businesses but we did not need $1 million three years ago.”

Mr Wiltshire said the new factory would not only be to feed growing online sales in Australia, fuelled by growth of health-conscious consumers during COVID-19, but the US market as well.

“America is our next export market,” he said.

“We hope to be exporting our dry mix products next financial year.”