COOK Trading

Cook (officially Cook Trading Ltd) is a manufacturer and retailer of frozen ready meals founded in 1997 by Edward Perry and Dale Penfold and based in Sittingbourne. Their founding statement is to 'cook using the same ingredients and techniques you would at home, so everything looks and tastes homemade'. Inspired by the taste of great home cooking,... they wanted to find a better way of doing business: working for people and the planet, not just profit. Ed ran the business with his brother James from 2000 to 2009. In 2017 Dale Penfold retired and today Ed leads the business alongside his sister Rosie, as co-chief executive officer. The business turned 25 years old in 2022. It has received over 50 Great Taste Awards for its broad range of meals and puddings, which can be found in 850 independent retailers all over the UK. Cook has four kitchens, where everything is still prepared by hand as stated in the founding statement. There are 94 Cook shops across the country and a nationwide home delivery service that was voted 'Best overall meal delivery service' by BBC Good Food in 2022. Cook was a founding member of B Corp UK in 2013, part of the global movement of responsible businesses. Cook is certified by the Living Wage Foundation and has been voted the Best British Food & Drink Company to work for by Best Companies. Their RAW talent programme to help people back into work after prison, homelessness and other challenges have been recognized with a Queen's Award for Enterprise.Read More