Cereal bar brand Boka Food has invested over £2 million to establish a 12,000 sq ft manufacturing facility in Winchester, Hampshire.

Founded in 2016, the business faced an unexpected setback in 2022 when it lost its primary co-packer, leading to challenges in finding an operator capable of producing the cold-pressed bars it needs.

The new factory in Winchester has the capacity to produce 21 million bars annually in a single shift, with the option to add another production line if needed. Additionally, the facility is completely nut-free. To support the operation of the factory, the business has expanded its team by 17 employees.

Boka bars are available through foodservice operators such as Bidfood, Brakes, and DDC Foods, supplying them to hospitals (for staff and visitor dining), universities, schools, leisure clubs, and corporate dining venues. The bars come in four flavors: apple and cinnamon, strawberry, choco mallow, and caramel.

Boka founder Franco Beer said: “We couldn’t find a manufacturer that could produce our Boka bars to a high enough standard, so we decided we’d do it ourselves. Converting a warehouse into a fully functioning, SALSA-approved factory in the space of seven months, has been a real labour of love but we’re so proud of what we’ve achieved.

“We now control the whole manufacturing process which allows us to produce exceptional quality bars, as well as ramping up our innovation pipeline. It also gives us capacity to co-pack for other food brands. This is an area I am keen to explore as I know how difficult it is finding a manufacturer with the skills to be able to make consistently good quality bars at the right price.”

Boka was founded by Beer, who struggled to find healthy snacks for his children's lunchboxes. He dedicated six years to innovating and developing a healthier cereal bar that is low in sugar, fat, and salt, contains fewer than 100 calories per bar, and emphasises great taste.