Ella Mills: The Inspiring Story Behind Deliciously Ella and a Modern Plant-Based Empire
Ella Mills, also known by her birth name Ella Woodward, is a British food writer, entrepreneur and businesswoman best known as the founder of Deliciously Ella, one of the UK’s most recognisable plant-based food and wellness brands. Born Eleanor Laura Davan Woodward in Rugby, England, she later became known as Ella Mills after marrying Matthew Mills. Her journey is not only the story of a cookbook author or social media personality; it is the story of a woman who turned a serious health challenge into a business, a community and a fresh approach to everyday eating.
Her work focuses on simple, natural and plant-led food. Instead of presenting healthy eating as strict or complicated, Ella Woodward, now professionally known as Ella Mills, has built her reputation on making vegetables, whole foods and home cooking feel approachable. Over time, her personal blog developed into cookbooks, an app, packaged food ranges, podcasts, retail success and a major commercial brand.
Ella Mills Early Life and Education
Ella Mills was born in May 1991 in Rugby, United Kingdom. She comes from a well-known British family. Her father is Shaun Woodward, a former politician, and her mother is Camilla Davan Sainsbury. Through her mother’s side, she is connected to the Sainsbury family, a name strongly associated with British retail history.
She studied at the University of St Andrews from 2009 to 2013, completing a Master of Arts degree. During these years, her life changed because of serious health problems. According to her professional profile, she became ill with a condition affecting her autonomic nervous system. The illness influenced her heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, immune system and energy levels. She has also spoken about the effect this had on her mental wellbeing.
Health Challenges Behind the Brand
The origin of Deliciously Ella came from this personal struggle. After medication did not fully control her symptoms, she began exploring food, health and wellness as part of recovery. She started experimenting with plant-based meals and documented those experiments online. What began as a personal recipe record gradually attracted readers who wanted healthier, simpler ways to eat.
Why Her Story Felt Different
This background explains why the brand has always felt personal. The business did not begin as a traditional corporate launch. It began with someone trying to feel better, sharing what she was learning and building trust through lived experience.
Ella Mills and the Rise of Deliciously Ella
Deliciously Ella started as a recipe website and grew into a leading name in the plant-based space. The brand became known for colourful, accessible recipes using everyday ingredients such as oats, nuts, fruit, vegetables, grains and pulses. Instead of promoting an extreme diet, the message became about eating more plants, more of the time.
The company later expanded into bestselling cookbooks, a lifestyle app, food products, cafés and retail ranges. The Deliciously Ella app and website offer plant-based recipes, wellness practices, shopping support and meal-planning tools. The product ranges have included oat bars, energy balls, granola, cereals and other natural snacks.
Retail Growth and Brand Recognition
A key reason for the brand’s success is its strong connection with everyday consumers. Deliciously Ella products moved from online popularity into major UK retailers, making the brand visible beyond the wellness community. The company has been associated with supermarket and high-street customers, including Tesco, Boots, Waitrose and Costa.
Ella Mills built the company with her husband, Matthew Mills, who has served as chief executive of the business. Together, they helped turn the name from a personal blog into a serious food company. The couple also won the Ernst & Young Rising Star Award at the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in London, proving that their work had moved beyond lifestyle influence into recognised entrepreneurship.
Ella Mills Books and Recipes
Books have played a major role in her public success. She is described on her social profile as an eight-time bestselling author. Her cookbooks are centred on plant-based meals that are practical for daily life, including breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, desserts, smoothies, salads, traybakes and family-friendly meals.
Her books helped introduce many readers to vegan and plant-based cooking as the category moved into the mainstream. The appeal of her recipes is their simplicity. Many dishes are built around familiar ingredients rather than specialist restaurant techniques, helping readers feel confident in the kitchen.
Popular Recipe Style
The typical Deliciously Ella recipe is colourful, wholesome and easy to adapt. Common themes include overnight oats, warming bowls, vegetable stews, pasta dishes, curries, salads, brownies, energy bites and quick weekday meals. Her recipe style is not only about vegan food; it is about making plant-led cooking feel normal and realistic.
Quick Wins Ella Mills
Quick Wins Ella Mills is an important part of her recent work as an author and plant-based food advocate. Quick Wins is one of her cookbooks, created for people who want healthy meals without spending too much time in the kitchen. The book focuses on simple plant-based cooking, everyday ingredients and practical recipes for busy families, professionals and beginners.
The appeal of Quick Wins is that it matches the wider Deliciously Ella message: eating more real food and more plants should feel achievable, not stressful. Through this book, Ella continues to move away from complicated wellness language and focuses instead on easy habits, quick meals and balanced home cooking.
Ella Mills Husband
Ella Mills married Matthew Mills in 2016. Matthew is not only her husband but also her business partner, which makes their story both personal and professional. The couple have two daughters, Skye Tessa Camilla Davan Mills and May Mills.
In April 2026, her social media showed her celebrating 10 years of marriage in Sicily, Italy. This matched the timeline of her marriage and gave followers a glimpse of her life outside the brand. Her personal Instagram profile describes her as an entrepreneur, founder of Deliciously Ella, co-founder of Allplants and connected with The Wellness Scoop Podcast. The same profile also reflects a softer personal direction, with the phrase “now learning to slow down.”
Ella Mills Career Updates and Business Changes
In September 2024, Deliciously Ella was acquired by Hero Group, a Swiss food company. The deal was presented as a major step for the brand’s growth in the UK and abroad. Hero Group stated that the acquisition would help the company reach more customers internationally while keeping the brand aligned with natural, healthy food values.
The acquisition did not remove her importance to the company’s story. She and Matthew Mills were described as remaining involved as the brand entered its next stage. In company records, Eleanor Laura Davan Mills was appointed as a director of Deliciously Ella Ltd on 7 May 2013 and resigned from that legal director role on 20 April 2026. This should be understood as a corporate officer change, not as the disappearance of her founder identity.
Also Read:
DR Manrina Rhode: Leading Aesthetic Dentist, Entrepreneur and Founder of DRMR Clinic in London
Ella Mills Net Worth
The exact net worth of Ella Mills is not publicly confirmed. Some websites publish estimates, but these figures should be treated carefully because they are not official. What is clear is that she built a valuable food and wellness brand, sold products at scale, published bestselling books and was involved in a significant acquisition by Hero Group. Therefore, her financial success is strongly linked to the growth and sale of Deliciously Ella, even if a precise personal figure is not available.
Final Thoughts
Ella Mills is more than the face of Deliciously Ella. She is a founder, author, mother, public wellness voice and British entrepreneur who transformed a personal health journey into a major plant-based business. Her career combines personal illness, business skill, privilege and strong communication. She has faced criticism at times, especially around wellness culture, but her brand has continued to grow and adapt.
Her continued influence comes from the simplicity of her message: real food, more plants and a healthier approach to daily life. For readers searching for her books, recipes, business background, family details or career updates, her story remains a notable example of modern British wellness entrepreneurship.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Ella Mills?
Ella Mills, also known by her birth name Ella Woodward, is a British food writer, entrepreneur and businesswoman. Her full birth name is Eleanor Laura Davan Woodward, and she later became known as Ella Mills after marrying Matthew Mills. She is best known as the founder of Deliciously Ella, a popular plant-based food blog, cookbook brand and wellness business. She is also an author, podcast host and public figure in the healthy eating space.
2. How old is Ella Mills?
Ella Mills was born in May 1991 in Rugby, United Kingdom. As of May 2026, she is 34 years old and will turn 35 on 31 May 2026.
3. Is Ella Mills married?
Yes, Ella Mills is married to Matthew Mills. The couple married in 2016 and have also worked together professionally through the Deliciously Ella business.
4. Does Ella Mills have children?
Yes, Ella Mills has two children. Her daughters are named Skye Tessa Camilla Davan Mills and May Mills.
5. Who is in Ella Mills’ family?
Ella Mills is the daughter of Shaun Woodward and Camilla Davan Sainsbury. Through her mother’s side, she is connected to the well-known Sainsbury family. Her husband is Matthew Mills, and they have two daughters together.
