Vegan Heather buys ‘ethical’ food firm to rival Linda McCartney’s
Heather Mills has used some of her £24.3 million divorce settlement from Sir Paul McCartney to buy a vegan food company.
Ms Mills spoke of her "dream come true" after acquiring the Redwood Wholefood Company for an undisclosed sum.
The 41-year-old former model, who went through an acrimonious divorce from the former Beatle last year, said she had been a fan of the firm and its "ethical, compassionate foods" for "many
years".
The company said the acquisition, for which no financial details were announced, would allow Ms Mills to "promote veganism globally". It would also make her a potential competitor to the line of meatless frozen meals launched by Sir Paul's late wife Linda in 1991.
Ms Mills is an animal rights campaigner, and Rod Garland, director of Redwood, said: "Heather shares the same values and aims as us, namely to spread compassion across the planet and promote a healthy and more ethical lifestyle. The acquisition will enable us to accelerate growth of the Redwood brand around the world and allow Heather to promote veganism through her own restaurants and brands."
Redwood director Keith Stott added: "Her efforts to promote health and compassion and to care for the planet though a vegan lifestyle are well known and fit exactly with the values held by Redwood." His company, based in Corby Northants, produces more than 50 animal-free foods under the Cheatin', VegiDeli and Cheezly brand names.
It was ranked highest in the Ethical Company Organisation's list of vegetarian food suppliers for the third year running with an overall score of 95 per cent.