Over-60s online caterer Parsley Box reveals plans to float on AIM with IPO open to retail investors

Parsley Box, the online ready meals provider targeted at the "underserved" over-60s, has announced plans to float in London.

The company, which was founded in 2017 and now delivers around 900,000 meals per month, said it expects to list on the junior AIM market in late March or early April.

The float is expected to value the company at around £80 million, which would see husband-and-wife founders Gordon and Adrienne MacAulay make a paper profit of millions from their 12.2% stake.

Parsley Box saw revenues of £24.4 million last year, and has raised more than £10 million from investors including its non-Executive chairman, the Minecraft entrepreneur Chris van der Kuyl. Today the company highlighted their consumer demographic's relative wealth and expansion opportunities as the UK population ages fast.

Most recent floats have been institution-only - including that of doorstep delivery firm Virgin Wines on AIM this week - but Parsley Box said it intends to open up the IPO to retail investors through the stock exchange's private investor platform, Primary Bid, in line with the company's "ethos of inclusivity".

Chief executive, Kevin Dorren, said: "[We] have only just begun to satisfy the demand of this underserved demographic, with a clear strategy to continue this growth.

“An IPO provides us with an attractive platform to realise our growth ambition, whilst also enabling our loyal customers and valued employees to share in our future success."