The Manchester Solar-Berry Hub 🍓 100% Solar-Powered. 100% Rain-Fed. 100% Sustainable.
"The Manchester Solar-Berry Hub was born from a simple question: Why are we importing strawberries when we have the technology to grow them better, fresher, and more sustainably right here in the North West?" We aren't just building a farm — we are building a resilient, zero-carbon food system. By removing the grid from the equation and focusing on circular nutrients, we've created a business that protects our planet as much as it protects our investors' capital. We invite you to join us in redefining what British farming looks like in 2026. — Anthony Dillon, Founder
The Vision & Strategy
The UK strawberry market faces a critical inflection point. Escalating energy costs and declining domestic production have rendered fresh, locally grown fruit increasingly dependent on complex global supply chains. Our 120-tower, off-grid vertical farm — operating beneath a single integrated canopy — is engineered to change that. By intelligently maximising tower capacity, introducing stackable row configurations, and utilising internal container growing space supported by a dual-pump drop-down irrigation system, we are positioned to produce between 12,000kg and 24,000kg of premium, pesticide-free strawberries annually — while significantly reducing both capital outlay and operational energy costs. **Solar-Powered Independence** A 20kWp industrial solar array, paired with 20kWh+ battery storage, delivers full off-grid capability — rendering our operation entirely resilient to UK energy market volatility. **Rainwater Harvesting at Scale** Our 460sqm canopy captures approximately 437,000 litres of soft Manchester rainwater annually. Every drop is processed through industrial-grade reverse osmosis and UV filtration systems, ensuring consistent, high-purity irrigation. **Circular Nutrient Management** Locally sourced grass clippings are transformed into a nitrogen-rich biological tea, balanced with premium potassium inputs. This closed-loop fertility strategy reduces chemical dependency by 30%, supporting both crop quality and environmental responsibility. **Natural Pollination** Dedicated on-site bee colonies provide consistent, natural pollination — ensuring uniformity and quality across every harvest. **Strategically Located on the Greater Manchester Fringe** Land acquisition costs are reduced by 80% compared to city-centre alternatives, without compromising distribution efficiency. Our 60-Minute Freshness Promise guarantees delivery to Manchester, Liverpool, or Leeds within one hour of harvest.
The Manchester Solar-Berry Hub — Investment Snapshot
Key financial metrics for the Manchester Solar-Berry Hub. 100% off-grid solar. 100% rain-fed. £0 energy bills. £0 water bills. Fixed monthly burn: £1,458 (land only). Based on 11 harvest cycles/year. All figures are estimates only and not financial advice. *Eligible for government grants, capital allowances, or reduced VAT for sustainable farming — can reduce costs by 20–40%.*
£968,000/yr
Land Rental (Fixed Monthly Burn)
1,000 towers × 40 plants = 40,000 plants. Yield: 110,000 kg/year (11 harvest cycles/year). 30–50% winter price premium when UK field competitors have nothing to sell. Estimates only, not financial advice.
£484,000/yr
CapEx — 120 Towers (Commercial Phase 1)
500 towers × 40 plants = 20,000 plants. Yield: 55,000 kg/year (11 harvest cycles/year). No additional land rental within 5,000 sq ft site. Phased 120-tower CapEx blocks. Estimates only.
£116,160/yr
Annual Revenue — 120 Towers
120 towers × 40 plants = 4,800 plants. Yield: 13,200 kg/year (11 harvest cycles/year). Mixed channel: 70% retail @ £4.00, 30% wholesale @ £2.40. CapEx: £31,600–£43,500. Estimates only.
30–50%
Winter Price Premium
Year-round off-grid indoor production captures a 30–50% price premium in Q4/Q1 when UK field competitors have nothing to sell. Estimates only — not financial advice.
40,000 plants, 120 tonnes yearly
At full 1,000-tower scale, Dillon's Strawberry Farm grows pesticide-free strawberries across 40,000 plants with annual yields of approximately 30 tonnes. Monthly burn remains structurally flat at £1,458 (land only). No pump per tower. No energy bill. No water bill.
40,000
Plants at full scale
1,000 towers × 40 plants per tower = 40,000 plants. Central manifold system — one pump feeds all towers. Lower energy and hardware cost at scale. Estimates only.
120,000 kg
Annual yield — 1,000 towers
40,000 plants × 250g per harvest × 12 cycles/year = 120,000 kg/year. Year-round indoor production, 30–50% winter price premium. Estimates only, not financial advice.
£264,000
Annual revenue — 1,000 towers
75,000 punnets (400g)/year. Mixed channel: 70% retail @ £4.00, 30% wholesale @ £2.40. Nutrient cost ~£1,000/yr partially offset by free grass cuttings. Estimates only, not financial advice.
£1,458
Monthly fixed burn (all scales)
Land rental only — the single fixed monthly cost. Energy: £0 (solar-offset). Water: £0 (rainwater-fed). Plant nutrients: ~£1,000/yr (~50% offset). Burn rate is structurally flat as towers scale within the 5,000 sq ft site. Estimates only.
Pre-Money Valuation: £100,000 — Here's How We Justify It
Dillon's Strawberry Farm's valuation is grounded in tangible assets already in place — physical infrastructure, propagation stock, and an established digital presence. This is the most transparent and defensible approach for an early-stage agricultural business seeking its first external investment. **Current Asset Inventory** | Asset | Detail | Estimated Value | |---|---|---| | Vertical growing towers | 14 units purchased and operational (test phase) | £5,460 – £9,520 | | Strawberry plants | ~560 bare-root/runner plants | £560 – £1,120 | | Miscellaneous equipment | Irrigation, pumps, tools, accessories | £1,000 – £2,000 | | Digital assets | 2 live websites (dillonsstrawberryfarm.co.uk & strawmeme.co), brand identity, domain portfolio | £2,000 – £5,000 | | Company registration & IP | Companies House registered entity (No. 17175268), trading brand | £1,000 | | **Total Estimated Asset Value** | | **£10,020 – £18,640** | *Tower pricing basis: Commercial hydroponic/aeroponic vertical towers in the UK are priced between £390 and £685 per unit for standard models.* --- **Why the Valuation Is £100,000** The gap between replacement cost (~£10k–£19k) and the £100,000 pre-money valuation is standard for early-stage businesses. The premium above asset value reflects: 1. **Founder time & labour invested** — Anthony Dillon has invested significant personal time in setup, research, supplier relationships, and operational groundwork that does not appear on a balance sheet. Labour is currently provided at nil cost, directly protecting investor capital. 2. **Scalable recurring revenue model in place** — The Adopt a Tower (£19/month) and Business Sponsorship (£500/year) streams are live and ready to sell. While subscribers are yet to be acquired, the infrastructure and pricing model are established — meaning investor capital goes directly into growth, not model-building. 3. **Market timing** — UK conventional strawberry growers are facing input cost rises of 30–40%. Controlled-environment vertical farming offers a structural cost and sustainability advantage at exactly the right moment in the market cycle. 4. **Established digital footprint** — Two live websites, a defined brand, and active customer acquisition channels are operational. This removes the time and cost of building a digital presence from scratch. 5. **Pilot site is live and operational** — 14 towers are producing in test phase. This is not a concept or a plan — it is a working farm at pilot scale, which eliminates the execution risk that applies to pre-launch ventures. 6. **Conservative growth trajectory** — Financial projections use NIAB's lowest recorded yield figure of 1.6 kg per tower per year. If growing conditions are optimised, yield could reach 3.2 kg per tower — effectively doubling the revenue line. **A £100,000 pre-money valuation represents approximately a 5–10× premium on replacement cost — consistent with standard early-stage agricultural technology ventures where the founder has de-risked the concept and built infrastructure before seeking investment.**
Your investment making an impact
See how your equity stake in Dillon's Strawberry Farm breaks down across our initial funding round and post-money valuation.
£100K
Pre-money valuation based on 28 operational towers and proven model
£60K
Equity investment sought to scale infrastructure and first harvest
£160K
Post-money valuation after this funding round closes
£100K
Total funding raised to date supporting Manchester vertical farm growth
From Investment Year to £120,012 Profit in Three Years
**Key Assumptions** | Assumption | Basis | |---|---| | Yield per tower per year | 1.6 kg (conservative end of NIAB research: 1.6–3.2 kg per tower) | | Direct sales price | £4.00/kg retail, £2.40/kg wholesale (70/30 split) | | Adopt a Tower | £19/month per subscriber | | Business Sponsorship | £500/year per sponsor | | Electricity | £0 — 100% solar powered | | Water | £0 — rainwater harvested | | Packaging | £0.30/kg from first harvest | | Labour | Founder 20hrs/week at nil cost Year 1; part-time from Year 2 | | Admin | £50/month, held constant | | Nutrients | ~£83/month (net after 50% grass cuttings offset) | | Land Rental | £0 Year 1 (pre-start phase) — £17,500/year from Year 2 (5,000 sq ft outer Manchester @ ~£3.50/sq ft) | | Insurance | £600/year | | Maintenance & Consumables | £550/year | --- **Tower Scale Milestones** | Year | Tower Count | Notes | |---|---|---| | Year 1 (2026) | 14 (test phase) | Pre-start, no land rental — test growing area, proof of concept | | Year 2 (2027) | 14 → 120 | Commercial scale, central manifold live, land rental begins | | Year 3 (2028) | 120 → 500 | Full expansion, land partnerships activated | --- **Revenue Projections — 11 Harvest Cycles/Year** | Revenue Stream | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | |---|---|---|---| | Direct Strawberry Sales (mixed channel) | £5,421 | £67,760 | £116,160 | | Adopt a Tower | £1,140 | £11,400 | £34,200 | | Business Sponsorship | £500 | £3,000 | £7,500 | | **Total Revenue** | **£6,961** | **£82,160** | **£157,860** | --- **Annual Fixed Overhead (Solar-Berry Hub)** | Cost | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | |---|---|---|---| | Land Rental — 5,000 sq ft outer Manchester | £0 — Pre-Start (no land rental) | £17,500 | £17,500 | | Energy | £0 | £0 | £0 | | Water | £0 | £0 | £0 | | Plant Nutrients (net after 50% grass cuttings offset) | ~£1,000 | ~£1,000 | ~£1,000 | | Maintenance & Consumables | £550 | £550 | £550 | | Insurance | £600 | £600 | £600 | | **Total Annual Overhead** | **~£2,150** | **~£19,650** | **~£19,650** | --- **Additional Variable Costs** | Cost | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | |---|---|---|---| | Packaging | £54 | £2,560 | £6,400 | | Labour (part-time from Y2) | £0 | £8,000 | £18,000 | | Loan Repayment (£40k @ 5%) | £9,048 | £9,048 | £9,048 | | Marketing & Sales | £1,000 | £3,000 | £5,000 | | **Total Variable Costs** | **£10,102** | **£22,608** | **£38,448** | --- **Profit & Loss Summary** | | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | |---|---|---|---| | Total Revenue | £6,961 | £82,160 | £157,860 | | Fixed Overhead | £2,150 | £19,650 | £19,650 | | Variable Costs | £10,102 | £22,608 | £38,448 | | **Total Costs** | **£12,252** | **£42,258** | **£58,098** | | **Net Profit / (Loss)** | **(£5,291)** | **£39,902** | **£99,762** | | Cumulative Position | (£5,291) | £34,611 | £134,373 | Year 1 is a planned pre-start test phase — no land rental applies. Break-even occurs in Year 2 as the farm scales to 120 towers and land rental begins. Year 3 net profit of £99,762 represents a strong return on the £60,000 equity investment. *Projections use NIAB's most conservative yield figure. Optimised conditions could reach 3.2 kg per tower, doubling revenue in Years 2 and 3. All figures are estimates and do not constitute financial advice.*
£100,000 Target — How It's Structured and Where It Goes
**Use of Funds** | Category | Amount | Detail | |---|---|---| | Infrastructure & Technology | £50,000 | Vertical growing towers, irrigation systems, and growing equipment. Setup on new land sites. | | Working Capital & Operations | £30,000 | Plants, labour, packaging, and logistics until harvest. Marketing and sales. | | Land & Expansion | £20,000 | Preparation of land, access roads, and utilities. | | **Total** | **£100,000** | | --- **Ownership Structure** | Source | Amount | Type | Ownership | |---|---|---|---| | Founder / Existing | £100,000 value | Equity | 62.5% | | New Investors | £60,000 | Equity | 37.5% | | Loan / Debt | £40,000 | Loan | No ownership — repaid with interest | --- **Why This Structure Works** - **For Investors:** Entry into a live, operational business with a clear 1,000-tower roadmap and multiple revenue streams. - **For the Business:** The loan component keeps costs tax-efficient and limits equity dilution at an early stage. - **For Growth:** The mixed model enables flexible land acquisition via lease, profit share, or joint venture. **Investor Rights include:** Share of profits, quarterly progress updates, right to attend AGM, 3-year lock-in with Right of First Refusal. *Share Subscription Agreement and Loan Agreement available on request. All legal documents must be reviewed by a qualified UK commercial solicitor prior to execution.*
Full production and revenue model at scale
The updated revenue model uses a **mixed sales channel** (70% retail @ £4.00/punnet, 30% wholesale @ £2.40/punnet) based on **40 plants per tower** and **12 harvest cycles per year** (continuous year-round production — ripe strawberries picked every 48–72 hours). Cost Summary Table Item Cost Range / Fixed Cost 120 × Vertical Grow Towers (£60 to £100 each) £7,800 – £12,000 Solar & Battery System (Used) £3,000 5 × 40ft Shipping Containers £5,000 – £8,000 2 × Canopies (£2,000 each) £4,000 Irrigation System £2,100 – £4,520 Lighting System £2,250 – £5,500 Foster EP 1440 H EcoPro G3 Refrigerator (Used) £500 Installation & Miscellaneous £4,000 – £6,000 Total One-Off Costs £28,650 – £43,520 Land Rental (Annual Overhead) £17,500/year (£1,458/month) Key Notes All one-off expenses combined range from approximately £28,650 to £43,520. Ongoing land rental is a fixed annual cost, separate from the initial setup expenditure. Some items are listed as used (solar system, refrigerator), which helps reduce upfront costs. *Eligible for government grants, capital allowances, or reduced VAT — potential 20–40% cost reduction. All figures are estimates only and not financial advice.*
Three ways to partner with us
Unlock the potential of your land. Choose the model that works best for your business and investment goals.
Lease or rent
Guaranteed annual rent with a 5-year term. Predictable income, zero operational involvement required from you.
Profit share or joint venture
Choose 30% profit share with us managing operations, or equal partnership sharing costs and profits as an active co-owner.
The Solar-Berry Hub: Tech Specs & Financial Model
The Manchester Solar-Berry hub is built for high-stability, low-burn cash flow. **Off-Grid Infrastructure** | System | Specification | |---|---| | Solar Array | 20kWp Industrial | | Battery Storage | 20kWh All-In-One | | Rainwater Harvested | 437,000 litres/year | | Water Treatment | RO + UV Filtration | | Structure | 5 × 40ft Containers + 2 × Canopies | | LED Lighting | Full-spectrum across towers | | **Refrigeration** | **Foster EP 1440 H EcoPro G3 (+1°/+4°C)** | | Energy Bills | £0 (solar-offset) | | Water Bills | £0 (rainwater-fed) | | Plant Nutrients | ~£1,000/year (~50% offset by grass cuttings) | | **Land Rental** | **£17,500/year (£1,458/month) — 5,000 sq ft outer Manchester** | --- **Tower CapEx by Scale** | Scale | Unit Price | Tower Total | System | Notes | |---|---|---|---|---| | 28 Towers | £300 | £8,400 | Individual pump per tower | Current stock. Higher energy use. | | 120 Towers | £100 | £12,000 | Central manifold (1 main pump) | One pump feeds all towers. | | 500 Towers | £100 | £50,000 | Central manifold | 2 × canopies + containers | | 1,000 Towers | £100 | £100,000 | Central manifold | 4 × canopies + containers | --- **CapEx — 28 Towers (Test Phase)** | Item | Cost | |---|---| | 28 × Vertical Grow Towers (inc. individual pumps/valves) | £2,800 | | Mains electricity connection | £1,500 | | Structure (2 × domestic polytunnels) | £500 | | Installation & Misc | £1,500 | | Website Design & Domain & Hosting | £500 | | **Total CapEx** | **£6,800** | --- **CapEx — 120 Towers (Commercial Scale)** | Item | Cost Range | |---|---| | 120 × Vertical Grow Towers (structure only) | £12,000 | | Solar & Battery System (USED, 20kWp + 20kWh) | £3,000–£8,000 | | Structure (5 × 40ft Containers + 2 × Canopies) | £7,000–£10,000 | | Irrigation System (central pump & manifold) | £2,100–£3,000 | | Lighting System (full-spectrum LED) | £4,500–£6,000 | | Foster EP 1440 H EcoPro G3 Refrigerator | £500 | | Installation & Miscellaneous | £2,500–£4,000 | | **Total Capital Expenditure** | **£31,600–£43,500** | | Land Rental (Ongoing Overhead) | £17,500/year (£1,458/month) | --- **Revenue at Scale — 40 Plants per Tower** | Scale | Towers | Plants | Annual Revenue | |---|---|---|---| | 28 towers | 28 | 1,120 | £7,392 | | 120 towers | 120 | 4,800 | £31,680 | | 500 towers | 500 | 20,000 | £132,000 | | 1,000 towers | 1,000 | 40,000 | £264,000 | No pump per tower. No energy bill. No water bill. Monthly burn rate is structurally flat. In winter, we capture a **30–50% price premium** — when UK competitors have nothing to sell. *All figures are estimates and do not constitute financial advice.*
From Foundation to First Harvest in Four Phases
The Manchester Solar-Berry Hub has a clear, phased 12-month path from investment to first commercial harvest. Each phase builds on the last, with no single point of failure. --- **Phase 1 — Months 1–3: Foundation** - Site acquisition on Greater Manchester fringe - Planning permission strategy and grid isolation plan confirmed - Supplier contracts locked in for towers, solar, and water systems - Investment structure finalised --- **Phase 2 — Months 4–6: Infrastructure** - 5 × 40ft container and 2 × canopy delivery and installation - 100kWp industrial solar array installed and commissioned - 40kL rainwater storage system installed - CC Combi 8000 rainwater harvesting and filtration operational --- **Phase 3 — Months 7–9: Growing Systems** - 1,000 vertical grow towers assembled and plumbed - **40,000 strawberry runners planted** (40 plants per tower × 1,000 towers) - Central overhead feeding system commissioned — no individual pumps per tower - Oase BioTec Grass-Tea bio-filtration system commissioned - Bee colonies introduced for natural pollination - VIQUA UV sterilisation system operational --- **Phase 4 — Months 10–12: First Harvest** - Vegetative growth and Bio-Tea fermentation cycle - First commercial harvest achieved - Wholesale and direct-to-consumer supply chains activated - Revenue generation begins --- **Confirmed Setup Cost (Updated Bill of Materials)** | Item | Cost | |---|---| | 1,000 × Vertical Grow Towers (£100 each) | £100,000 | | Solar & Battery System | £16,650–£21,900 | | 5 × 40ft Shipping Containers | £12,500–£20,000 | | 2 × Canopies (@ £1,800 each) | £3,600 | | Central Overhead Feeding System | £3,100–£4,520 | | Lighting System | £9,250–£12,500 | | **Foster EP 1440 H EcoPro G3 Refrigerator (+1°/+4°C)** | **£3,179** | | Installation & Miscellaneous | £4,000–£6,000 | | **Total CapEx** | **£152,279–£171,699** | | **Land Rental (annual overhead)** | **£17,500/year (£1,458/month)** | *Note: Eligible for government grants, capital allowances, or reduced VAT — can reduce costs by 20–40%.* **Updated Return on Investment (ROI) — 40 Plants per Tower** | Scale | Plants | Annual Revenue | ROI vs CapEx | |---|---|---|---| | 28 towers | 1,120 | £7,392 | — | | 120 towers | 4,800 | £31,680 | ~21% | | 500 towers | 20,000 | £132,000 | ~87% | | 1,000 towers | 40,000 | £264,000 | ~175% | *All figures are estimates only and not financial advice. Contact Anthony to discuss a staged investment plan.*
Partner With the Manchester Solar-Berry Hub
We're open to discussions with strategic investors, local retailers, and landowners ready to explore agricultural diversification. **The Manchester Solar-Berry Hub offers:** - **£0 energy bills** — 20kWp industrial solar array + 20kWh all-in-one battery storage - **£0 water bills** — 437,000 litres/year rainwater harvested, RO + UV filtration - **~£1,000/year plant nutrients** — ~50% offset by free grass cuttings - **Fixed monthly burn: £1,458** (land only) — flat as towers scale within the site - **30–50% winter price premium** — year-round indoor production when UK competitors have nothing to sell - **Central manifold system at 120+ towers** — one main pump, lower energy and hardware cost - **Foster EP 1440 H EcoPro G3 refrigeration** (+1°C/+4°C) for post-harvest quality - **Structure: 5 × 40ft containers + 2 × canopies** **CapEx by Scale** | Scale | Tower Cost | System | Total CapEx (est.) | |---|---|---|---| | 14 towers (test) | £4,200 (£300/tower) | Individual pump per tower | ~£3,400 | | 120 towers | £12,000 (£100/tower) | Central manifold | £31,600–£43,500 | | 500 towers | £50,000 (£100/tower) | Central manifold | Phased | | 1,000 towers | £100,000 (£100/tower) | Central manifold | Phased | *Each additional 120-tower block uses the same £31,600–£43,500 costing. No additional land rental within the 5,000 sq ft site.* No full upfront commitment required. We welcome staged investment, joint ventures, landowner partnerships, and grant co-funding via DEFRA, Innovate UK, and GMCA. Contact Anthony to request the full Investment Prospectus. *All figures are estimates only and do not constitute financial advice.*
Capital required to launch your farm
Dillon's Strawberry Farm's updated Bill of Materials brings the total setup cost to **£152,279–£171,699** for a 1,000-tower, fully off-grid operation. This covers all essential cost categories: 1,000 growing towers (£100K), solar & battery system (£16,650–£21,900), 5 × 40ft shipping containers (£12,500–£20,000), 2 × canopies at £1,800 each (£3,600), irrigation system (£3,100–£4,520), lighting system (£9,250–£12,500), **Foster EP 1440 H EcoPro G3 Refrigerator (£3,179)**, and installation & miscellaneous (£4,000–£6,000). **Tower cost breakdown:** - 500 × Vertical Grow Towers at £100 each = **approximately £50,000** - 1,000 × Vertical Grow Towers at £100 each = **approximately £100,000** **At 40 plants per tower:** - 500 towers = 20,000 plants → ~£132,000/year revenue - 1,000 towers = 40,000 plants → ~£264,000/year revenue **Government grants, capital allowances, or reduced VAT for sustainable farming could reduce costs by a further 20–40%.** Visit our full cost estimator page for a detailed breakdown.
Pricing & Delivery Details for Bare Root Strawberry Plants
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The Innovation and Agricultural Expertise Driving Dillon's Strawberry Farm
We partner with leading agricultural innovators and technology providers to deliver advanced vertical farming solutions and sustainable growth across Manchester and beyond.
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