North East protein snack entrepreneurs seek investment on Dragons’ Den

The founders of North East-based Oatein are set to feature in BBC Two’s Dragons’ Den this weekend.

Business partners John Paul Gardner and Andy Dixon will be aiming to win the Dragons over with their range of healthy protein-packed bars, flapjacks and cookies.

If successful, the duo said cash raised will be ploughed into increasing their slice of the lucrative UK health snack market.

Exports currently account for 90% of the Oatein’s revenues, with the company seeing particular success in the Middle East, but John Paul and Andy want to build on that by ramping up domestic sales.

The two met in the boxing ring before going to launch Oatein in Whitley Bay, starting off with flapjacks and later expanding the range with bars and cookies.

It has now sold over 2.5 million snacks in supermarkets, pharmacies and specialty health outlets across 55 countries.

John Paul and Andy want to increase Oatein’s domestic sales (Credit: BBC)

Entering the Den, John Paul and Andy admit their main target for investment is long-standing Dragon Peter Jones.

John Paul said: “We are thrilled to be appearing on the latest series of Dragons’ Den. Our products are designed, manufactured and packaged in the UK but it has always been the hardest market for us to penetrate.

“Our products have been really successful all around the world, but now we’re really keen to increase our presence on our own doorstep. We see a partnership with a Dragon as a great way to kick start that.”

Oatein will appear on Dragons’ Den on Sunday (January 27) at 8pm on BBC Two.

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