Kevin Dorren, CEO of Edinburgh-based ready meals firm Parsley Box Group plc, has bought another 320,000 shares of the company to take his holding in Parsley Box to 13.33%.

Parsley Box, which targets the over 65s demographic, joined the stock market in March last year at £2 per share — but the firm has suffered a torrid first year as a public company with its shares falling almost 90% to around 21p.

Parsley Box on Tuesday reported results for its first “very challenging” year as a listed company — showing revenue increased 4% to £25.5 million but adjusted EBITDA loss soared to £7.1 million in the year to December 31.

The company said on Wednesday: “Parsley Box … announces that, today, Kevin Dorren, Chief Executive Officer, purchased 320,000 ordinary shares of 1 penny each in the company at a price of 20.5 pence per ordinary share …

“Following the purchase, Kevin Dorren has a direct holding in 9,680,254 ordinary shares representing 13.33% of the company’s issued share capital.

“In addition, Move Fresh Limited, a company over which he exercises significant control, has a beneficial interest in 1,662,827 ordinary shares representing 2.29% of the company’s issued share capital.”