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Outsourcing helps start-up lead the way in smart kitchens

P R E S S R E L E A S E

Ref: HWPR86 Date: 5th September 2019

Outsourcing helps start-up lead the way in smart kitchens

A Staffordshire start-up is spearheading the development of smart kitchens by reaping the benefits of outsourcing its accountancy and business support services.

When Tom Cooper founded Pantri in 2015 Howards Chartered Certified Accountants advised on company structure and set up cloud-based accountancy software and training. Ongoing, it takes care of a series of day-to-day administrative tasks so that the Pantri team can channel their energies into developing technology to enable next generation Wi-Fi kitchen appliances to shop for consumables and food automatically.

Howards also provides Pantri with a raft of professional services from tax planning and payroll to compliance, including statutory accounts and tax returns, whilst its in-house experts and specialists are on hand to provide strategic advice as the business develops.

Says Tom: "In the future, it doesn't take too much imagination to see a world where the kitchen just keeps stock of the weekly essentials automatically, using online retail to keep itself stocked and enabling us all to spend more time doing the things we enjoy. We're kick-starting this new world by turning data from new smart appliances into orders that our platform automatically forwards to existing retailers.

"Howards provides business critical support - helping us administer what has quickly become a complex business from an accounting perspective, with international transactions and taxation. They ensure we take full advantage of the UK's world leading seed investment and R&D tax schemes, whilst managing our continually evolving shareholder structures as we bring in new venture capital."

Lichfield-based Pantri recently received investment from Techstars, an American business accelerator that offers start-ups support through a worldwide network of mentors and advisors.

Soon Pantri will be embedded in various kitchen appliance smartphone apps, powering their shopping functionality behind the scenes as the company's maiden product launches in the UK this month followed by overseas expansion in 2020.

Nick Archer, senior manager at Howards, says: "The UK is the world's third largest online grocery retail market and thanks to advances in the IoT, the opportunities for Pantri are huge.

"Tom is a creative young entrepreneur and for Pantri to achieve its potential he needs to give his full attention to what he does best. Our role is to take the strain when it comes to keeping the day-to-day business operation on track and to advise the best way forward."

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Caption: Stafford accountancy firm Howards is helping tech start-up Pantri to make its mark. Pictured (left to right) are: Dominique Cooper, Nick Archer and Tom Cooper.

About Howards

Howards was founded in 2005 following the merger of Barrington's and Wood & Co, two well-established and successful Stafford firms of accountants. The combined experience and areas of individual expertise that the company now enjoys has been passed on to its clients, who all benefit from Howards' deeper knowledge base and wider range of professional services. The senior team comprises managing director Matt Bailey, director and commercial and taxation specialist Ryan Hudson, office manager and group company secretary Joanne Austin, senior manager Nick Archer, accounts manager Clive Boult, payroll manager Karen Evans and managers Rachael Wilson, Joe Dimambro and Chris Glue.

Howards' social media platforms

Follow Howards on Twitter - @Howards_CA