A London based Dim Sum brand has secured a six-figure sum to scale staff and expand its range. The funding was secured from the Greater London Investment Fund (GLIF) as part of a fundraising campaign advised by Accelve.

Ding Dong Dim Sum launched in 2021 and have since sold seventy thousand Dim Sum boxes directly from their ecommerce website. 

Noting how quickly Dim Sum degrades as a takeaway and the lack of availability in retail and restaurant outlets nationwide, the founders created a freshly frozen Dim Sum range that is delivered and steamed at home using an innovative biodegradable cardboard steamer. As well as the steamer, each box contains a feast of dumplings, gyoza, siu mai, bao buns, sticky rice, salad and dips.

Founders, Thomas Greenwood-Mears and Maya Rodricks of Ding Dong Dim Sum commented: “We wanted to find a way of bringing authentic Chinese cuisine to every household in an affordable and sustainable fashion. We have been overwhelmed by the initial response from the public and are excited by the imminent launch of an everyday range which will make our offering more widely accessible.”

Leo Brooks, Investment Manager for The FSE Group, which manages the £55 million GLIF fund, commented: “We were extremely impressed by the innovation shown by Ding Dong Dim Sum and the determination of the founders to grow rapidly.”

Anup Agrawal of Accelve, fundraising advisor to the founders commented: “We are delighted to have helped Tom and Maya secure funds from GLIF as the business seeks to build its multichannel presence.”

Ding Dong Dim Sum are now looking to add retail expertise to their board whilst continuing to secure follow-on equity investment to further accelerate their growth over the next 18 to 36 months.

GLIF is a £100m initiative to help address the SME finance gap in Greater London, promoting economic growth through enterprise and an inclusive and sustainable economy. £55m of debt funding is available, via loans between £100,000 and £1m, to early-stage and established SMEs looking to scale-up and realise their growth ambitions. GLIF is financed through the European Investment Bank (EIB), European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), London Waste & recycling Board (LWARB) and Funding London’s Legacies.