The FGB Digest brings you the latest news on the world’s fastest growing direct-to-consumer and challenger brands. In today’s edition: Mindful Chef sees 452% sales spike as stockpiling continues; Casetify launches smartphone sanitiser case; and BigBasket close to two acquisitions. 

Mindful Chef sees 452% sales spike as stockpiling continues

Mindful Chef, which provides healthy recipe boxes, has reported a 452% spike in new recipe box customers and a 387% spike in frozen meal sales.

Also reported is a significant increase in customer basket size, with multiple customers spending over £500 in one order, equating to more than 80 frozen meals.

Mindful Chef co-founder, Giles Humphries, commented: “COVID-19 hasn’t impacted the service that Mindful Chef is able to provide our customers despite a 452% sales increase as customers follow social distancing guidance.

“Unlike the vast majority of online grocery providers who have had to halt orders, Mindful Chef is still very much open for business and dedicated to delivering healthy meals to customers across the UK, old and new.

“We continue to deliver 7 days a week, nationwide and we don’t require a delivery signature - providing contactless delivery for those self-isolating. We have introduced a number of additional checks to ensure the safety of our staff and customers.

“For those wishing to send food to loved ones, a one off purchase option can be found on our online store, along with gift vouchers at shop.mindfulchef.com.”

Casetify launches smartphone sanitiser case

Casetify has launched a UV Smartphone Sanitiser which uses UV light to destroy 99.9% of germs that live on a phone’s surface. It can fit easily in a backpack or handbag, and thanks to a handy wireless charging function, it will charge up your device as it cleans it.

Casetify says the case will fit all smartphones, though there is a USB-C cable to charge a device if it doesn’t have wireless charging. If you’re an AirPods user, there’s also space to pop an AirPods case in there to give it a good clean as well.

The case costs £100 to buy from Casetify’s website. The company has pledged to donate the proceeds from the sales of the sanitiser case to GlobalGiving's Coronavirus Relief Fund, a non-profit organisation which is sending essential supplies, food and medical responders to communities in need at this time. 

BigBasket close to two acquisitions

Bengaluru-headquartered grocery delivery platform BigBasket is in advanced talks to acquire two milk delivery startups — Gurugram-based Milkbasket and Bengaluru-based DailyNinja to consolidate its position in the grocery and subscription delivery space.

Apparently, both these startups are running low on cash and the deal would be majority stock acquisitions. Moreover, Bigbasket’s valuation is also expected to stand much higher after this deal, than the USD$1.2bn which is achieved during the last round of funding last year.

On the other hand, Milkbasket’s valuation for the deal is going to be less than USD$15m. Prior to coming to BigBasket, Milkbasket was also in talks with Swiggy, Amazon India, and Dunzo. It must be noted that neither deal has been finalised yet.

As part of the DailyNinja deal, DailyNinja’s 280 employees will join BigBasket. This acquisition will help BigBasket’s micro delivery arm bbdaily to consolidate its leadership position in the subscription commerce space in Bengaluru. It will now have access to DailyNinja’s network of 2,000 milkman partners spread across the country. 

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