Who We Are
With over four decades of proven innovation and UK-based capabilities, CNF delivers
credible products and long-term value through insight-led development.
Built on Decades of Proven Innovation
CNF is a portfolio of brands built on over 40 years of product innovation, scientific expertise and commercial discipline. What began as a pioneering business has grown into a scaled organisation with the capability and credibility to operate across multiple health and nutrition categories.
We develop products that are thoughtfully formulated, responsibly manufactured and relevant to modern lifestyles. From personalised nutrition and women’s wellness to commercial manufacturing, our UK-based production facilities and end-to-end model take ideas from concept through to consumer – efficiently and responsibly.
As a proudly employee-owned business, every person is a stakeholder. That shared ownership shapes our decisions, elevates our standards and defines our culture – grounded in trust, accountability and doing the right thing, not simply the easy thing.
At CNF, we build with purpose, guided by insight and focused on long-term value.
Our History
CNF was founded on a scientist’s determination to rethink weight management. In the 1960s, Dr Alan Howard, a biochemist at the University of Cambridge, developed a nutritionally complete, clinically credible programme designed to deliver measurable outcomes. The Cambridge Diet launched in the UK in 1984, setting a new standard in structured weight loss.
That foundation of evidence and innovation shaped the business that followed. Built on rigorous research and one-to-one support, the model earned long-standing trust and clinical credibility.
Today, CNF has evolved into a broader group operating from its own manufacturing site in Corby, exporting globally and continuing to invest in research. While the business has grown, its commitment to integrity, science and meaningful impact remains unchanged.
1960’s
Dr Alan Howard begins research into obesity and nutrition at the University of Cambridge.
1984
The Cambridge Diet is launched in the UK, introducing a new evidence-led approach to weight management.
1985
First international distributor appointed in Denmark under the name Cambridge Kuren, marking the beginning of global expansion.
1986
Manufacturing begins in Corby. By 2004, the entire business relocates to the site, establishing it as CNF’s long-term operational home.
2005
Cambridge Nutritional Foods (CNF) is officially incorporated, establishing the foundation for the company’s future growth.
2018
Results from the DROPLET trial are published in The BMJ using The 1:1 Diet’s TDR programme.
2020
The 1:1 Diet reaches 31 distributors supplying 41 international markets. Direct to Dieter is launched in the UK.
2025
Our new and innovative brand for women, Serenova Nutrition, launches on International Women’s Day.
2026
PortionIQ is launched to support people using GLP-1 medications, helping them feel nourished and in control, one portion at a time.
Today
4 brands, employee ownership, and over 40 years of product innovation shape the backbone of Cambridge Nutritional Foods today.
Our Approach
At CNF, scientific integrity meets commercial discipline. Every decision across product, process and people is guided by evidence, experience and a long-term view of value.
With over 40 years of operational expertise, we understand what it takes to deliver at standard and at scale. Strong foundations, measured decisions and quality-led growth define how we operate. Focused, adaptable and commercially astute, we build brands designed for relevance today and resilience tomorrow.
Our Focus
Our focus is on creating science-led, commercially robust solutions that meet real consumer needs, support meaningful health outcomes, and raise the standard for quality, efficacy and trust.
Science with Standards
Science isn’t a narrative for us – it’s in our DNA. From formulation to clinical research, every stage of development is grounded in evidence, nutritional precision and measurable results.
Manufacturing with Control
We manufacture in-house at our UK facility, maintaining full control over quality, efficiency and scale. Across powders, bars, shakes and functional foods, our operations are built for flexibility – while our standards remain uncompromising.
Growth with Integrity
We build for the long term. As an employee-owned business, accountability sits with all of us – shaping our culture, our commercial choices and the partnerships we form. We collaborate with organisations that share our standards and a commitment to lasting value.
Our Culture
Ownership shapes our culture; action proves it. We value clear thinking, shared responsibility and doing the right thing, even when it’s not the easiest path.
People are encouraged to speak up, challenge constructively and take ownership of standards. Our teams work collaboratively across disciplines and brands, with clarity, care and respect.
We take pride not only in what we create, but in how we create it. What we build, we build together…and we stand behind it.
CNF shapes the future of nutrition by setting a high standard for evidence-based health, helping people live healthier, better lives
To turn trusted, evidence-led science into nutrition brands people trust, delivering real outcomes, credibility and meaningful impact every day.
To improve health and wellbeing for the long term by building a sustainable, employee-owned nutrition business, grounded in trusted science, shared ownership and responsible action – creating lasting value for people, partners and society.
At CNF, every employee is a stakeholder. That sense of shared ownership shapes the way we work, the decisions we make and the pride we take in what we deliver. It gives our teams a direct connection to the success of the business and drives the high standards we set for ourselves and each other.
We work with autonomy, focus and care. We back each other, and we take pride in what we deliver. With a strong mix of long-standing experience and new thinking, we are united by a shared belief in doing things well and doing them the right way.
40+ years of expertise
Employee-owned
UK manufacturer
