Business partners Andy Needham and Dan Cluderay are a step closer to winning a share of a £1m prize fund.
Their company, Approved Food, is one of just nine firms to reach the final stage of the nationwide Virgin Media Business Pitch to Rich competition.
Andy, who lives at Skelmanthorpe, and Dan will pitch their business idea to Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson and a panel of expert judges during a live finale on 26 June.
Approved Food, which sells surplus stocks, including food that is nearing or past its ‘best-before-date’ received more than 12,700 votes from the public and will now go up against two other businesses in the “Grow” of the competition – and be in with a change to win a share of the £1m prize fund.
More than 2,500 organisations entered the competition, which aims to reward great business ideas.
Andy and Dan are hoping for better success than they had with an appearance on TV’s Dragon’s Den – when they failed to persuade any of the Dragons to part with £100,000 in return for a 10% stake in their business.
The winner in the Pitch to Rich competition will get £250,000 of marketing support, with two runners-up getting £100,000 of marketing support.
Dan said that just being in the final of the competition would help Sheffield-based Approved Food to further educate people on best before dates – and the resulting waste caused by people throwing away food that was still fit to eat.
Sir Richard said: “We set out to find great business ideas with the potential to disrupt a market and judging by the calibre of the finalists, we have found the very best.
“The people that make a difference are the ones that have the courage to overcome obstacles in order to turn an idea into a successful business. The level of passion among the Virgin Media Business Pitch to Rich entrants has been inspiring and the finale will be testament to that.”
