Littlehampton business backed by Dragons' Den star

Mark Northeast, who runs Funky Lunch, has won the first ever Enterprise Business Challenge, run by investor Peter Jones of television's Dragons' Den fame, scooping a 10,000 cash injection for his business, as well as 10 hours of legal, accountancy, PR and HR services from leading firms.

His was one of six new businesses, short-listed from more than 2,500 entries, to go before a panel of judges, including the dragon himself, last week.

Mark, 36, said he couldn't believe it when he was announced as the winner.

"I was gobsmacked, I just sat in my chair for about 30 seconds, I couldn't believe it."

Healthy food

The father-of-two said it was the first time he had ever pitched for investment in his company, which encourages children to eat healthily by making sandwiches into fun shapes.

A 10-minute pitch was followed by 10 minutes of questions.

Mark's book was released two months ago, and he is hoping to take his business down a new route, of organising days in schools, helping children to make their own funky lunches.

It was this aspect he pitched to Peter Jones and the rest of the panel.

The money, he would, be spent on marketing and promotions, adding that the 10 consultancy hours would also be a massive help.

Mark hit international headlines after making his first "funky lunch" for five-year-old son, Oscar, and posting the photos on Facebook and Twitter.

The idea soon took on a life of its own, and, to date, he has appeared in newspapers in Brazil, Australia and beyond, and has been seen on Canadian breakfast television, BBC's Blue Peter, and ITV's This Morning.

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