![\"Dragons'](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SEI_315738220-bf90.jpg\")
\n\t\tMatt Kenyon and his wife and business partner Imogen Royall appeared on Dragons\u2019 Den (Picture: BBC)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tMatt Kenyon and his wife and business partner Imogen Royall appeared on Dragons\u2019 Den (Picture: BBC)<\/p>\n
From homeless contestants to future entrepreneurs having to remortgage their properties to build their businesses, Dragons\u2019 Den<\/a> is no stranger to a rags-to-riches story.<\/p>\n However, for Matt Kenyon, who presented his business on the BBC<\/a> series with his wife and business partner Imogen Royall, his journey certainly feels unique.<\/p>\n After leaving school at 16 and spending a decade working in construction, Matt\u2019s British spelt pasta company, Northern Pasta Co., now turns over a whopping \u00a31million a year.<\/p>\n Speaking to Metro about his joint \u00a350,000 investment from Peter Jones<\/a> and Deborah Meaden<\/a> on the show, Matt said that going into the Den was absolutely \u2018nerve-wracking\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018We did a little bit of work beforehand, just things like breathing and calming exercises. That definitely helped,\u2019 he tells me.<\/p>\n \u2018Obviously going in, you\u2019re thinking, \u201cWell, this could go one of two ways,\u201d and it could potentially be a really bad thing for the business.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018There was that nervousness around not knowing how it was going to be received, or how you were going to be received.\u2019<\/p>\n However, for Matt, the most surprisingly element was \u2018honeslty how positive it all was\u2019.<\/p>\n Since his episode of Dragons\u2019 Den aired, the Northern Pasta Co. says its average daily sales have jumped by more than 675%.<\/p>\n Asked about his \u00a31million turnover target for 2026, Matt adds: \u2018Yeah, we are on track for that.<\/p>\n \u2018With all the opportunities that are arising, we\u2019re very confident that we can meet next year\u2019s target as well.\u2019<\/p>\n The rapid growth comes as Northern Pasta Co moved into a new 12,000 sq ft factory in Carnforth, Lancashire.<\/p>\n The new site has allowed the company to dramatically increase production, with capacity rising from around 2.25 tonnes of pasta a week to 13.5 tonnes.<\/p>\n With his decade of experience in construction, Matt put those trade skills to good use and was personally responsible for overseeing the build of the company\u2019s new factory.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018The main thing is probably the move,\u2019 he says.<\/p>\n \u2018We\u2019ve moved into a 12,000 sq ft space, which is much bigger than where we were before, and it\u2019s just given us that flexibility to grow.\u2019<\/p>\n The Dragons\u2019 investment has also helped the company buy new equipment, including a packing line and extrusion line.<\/p>\n But the sudden growth has meant the team has had to work hard to keep up with demand.<\/p>\n \u2018It has been manic,\u2019 Matt says. \u2018We\u2019ve just had to really go for it.<\/p>\n \u2018We were hoping to make a little bit less initially, just to get used to the machine, but we had to jump in at the deep end.\u2019<\/p>\n Despite the success, Matt admits the scale of the transformation hasn\u2019t always sunk in.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018It\u2019s happened quickly,\u2019 he tells me. \u2018It didn\u2019t always feel it, but definitely in hindsight it\u2019s really happening quickly.<\/p>\n \u2018We can be super proud of what we\u2019ve done and where we\u2019re going.\u2019<\/p>\n However, despite the huge amount of attention that Dragons\u2019 Den has brought the business, Matt says he and Imogen aren\u2019t interested in simply copying other successful food brands.<\/p>\n \u2018We don\u2019t necessarily try to emulate others,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n \u2018We just do what we feel is right and obviously take advice from people. We\u2019re just trying to make our own path.\u2019<\/p>\n Dragons\u2019 Den is available to watch on BBC One on Thursdays from 8pm. Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Dragons'](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SEI_315738256-b934.jpg\")
\n\t\tMatt and Imogen presented their British spelt pasta company, Northern Pasta Co., to the Dragons (Picture: BBC)<\/p>\n![\"Dragons'](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SEI_312001830-bcac.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe couple secured a joint \u00a350,000 investment from Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden on the show (Picture: BBC\/Drgaon\u2019s Den)<\/p>\n![\"Dragons'](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SEI_315738227-4a08.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe Northern Pasta Co. says its average daily sales have jumped by more than 675% (Picture: BBC)<\/p>\n
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