A YORK based distributor of nutrition and sports supplements has secured a £200,000 grant to grow the business amid increased customer demand.

Power Body Nutrition, in Dunnington, has become one of the first businesses in York to received funding from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF).

Established in 2008, Power Body Nutrition has grown to supply shops and gyms across Europe as well as the UK.

With revenues increasing to more than £12 million in 2016, the company moved to a larger premise last year to handle new levels of stock.

Power Body Nutrition will use the investment to purchase a new IT system and assist with stock purchase, as demand for its products from overseas customers continues to increase. The company is also looking to open up new sales channels by offering its customers a broader range of products.

The company currently employs more than 40 members of staff, and is looking to create an additional six jobs over the course of the loan period.

Agata Milewska, business development manager at Power Body Nutrition, said: “This new funding has presented us with an opportunity to transform our business and put it in a strong position for future growth.

“By expanding our product range, we can entice new customers with our services and grow our client base. We’re thankful to NPIF for this vital funding and we’re excited to see the progression of the business over the course of the facility.”

The investment was made by Enterprise Ventures Debt Finance, an NPIF product fund managed by Enterprise Ventures.

The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund provides a mix of debt and equity funding from £25,000 to £2 million, and works alongside 10 Local Enterprise Partnerships.

The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund project is supported financially by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank.