UK-based bone broth maker Borough Broth Company has snapped up local vegan curry brand SpiceBox for an undisclosed sum.

SpiceBox products – including curries, dhal and sauces – will now be manufactured at Borough Broth’s west London kitchen.

Borough Broth founder Rosamund Heathcote said she has “always loved SpiceBox’s focus on quality” and is “really excited” by the deal.

SpiceBox, which first started out as an Indian restaurant in north-east London, made its first venture into retail with a range of sauces, dhals and curries in 2021. The company has stopped its restaurant service as founder Grace Regan has decided to solely focus on retail products.

She said: “I am extremely excited for what lies ahead for SpiceBox. We have found the perfect partner in Borough Broth. We share the same values of real, honest food that benefits our health and the planet. By joining forces, we hope to strengthen our combined mission of improving the UK’s food system.

“I am so proud that our products will tread gently on our customers’ and our soils’ health. I feel that I have found a kindred spirit in Ros, and I have no doubt that we will succeed in our goal of making regenerative food a part of everyone’s weekly shop.”

Regan will continue to head up the SpiceBox brand under its new ownership.

Borough Broth’s products are sold at Waitrose, through online grocer Ocado and in Whole Foods Market’s UK stores. The company sells bundles of chicken, beef, lamb and duck broth and fats with a focus on being organic.

In a statement, the companies said the acquisition of SpiceBox “comes at a time of great growth for Borough Broth”.

While not disclosing specific figures, Heathcote said Borough Broth’s revenue rose 120% in the year to the end of February.

Heathcote added: “The Borough Broth Company’s vision was always to encourage people to return to whole foods and move away from ultra-processed basics.  Since 2015, we’ve been doing that with our delicious broths, we launched our fabulous fats last year and now I’m thrilled to be working with Grace to bring these wonderful products into the Borough Broth family.”

Last month, a study published in the British Medical Journal wrote that consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) has been linked with the development of 32 adverse human health outcomes.

Researchers found “direct associations” between UPFs and an increased risk of death, death linked to cardiovascular disease and common mental disorders.

“The strongest available evidence” also showed a link between UPFs and a greater risk of becoming overweight and obese, along with type 2 diabetes.