Florist cashes in to grow the business

Seed capital Bloom & Wild, the florist, is raising £75 million for expansion after its sales soared in lockdowns
Seed capital Bloom & Wild, the florist, is raising £75 million for expansion after its sales soared in lockdowns
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An online florist has raised £75 million from investors after lockdowns led to a surge in orders from people sending bouquets to loved ones.

Bloom & Wild has received the capital from General Catalyst and Index Ventures, an early backer of Just Eat and Deliveroo. Burda Principal Investments, which has backed Bloom & Wild since 2017, also took part in the fundraising. The money will be used to help to drive expansion overseas after it launched in France, Germany and Austria.

Aron Gelbard founded the business seven years ago after being inspired by Anthony Fletcher, a university friend who was running Graze, a snack business, at the time.

Mr Gelbard, 38, realised that the majority of flower deliveries were a frustrating experience because they relied