Prepared-to-drink (RTD) vodka soda model Arrowtown Drinks has landed £400,000 (US$538,000) of funding to assist growth throughout retail, festivals and the on-trade.
Arrowtown Drinks, which is described as a ‘better-for-you’ vodka soda model, was based by brothers Rob and James Smith who sought to ‘make a drink that’s match for the 21st century’.
The model boasts a portfolio of naturally flavoured vodka sodas, which incorporates Lime & Elderflower, Peach & Raspberry, Black Cherry & Apple, and Mango & Pineapple expressions, all of which include no sweeteners, preservatives or synthetic components.
Arrowtown additionally has a social mission to assist cease ocean-bound plastic bottles from finishing their journey.
By way of a partnership with Ocean Co, the model has pledged to fund the gathering of no less than 3,600 kilograms of ocean-bound plastic this 12 months. To this point, Arrowtown has collected greater than 300,000 ocean-bound plastic bottles.
Now, the duo has attracted the backing of Mark Philip-Sorensen of Sorven Capital – an early investor in Wild, Aware Chef and Methodology – together with strategic angel traders, together with seasoned client model founders, senior FMCG executives, and a former non-executive director of Co-op.
Along with £400,000 in funding, these traders are mentioned to deliver with them deep experience and industrial networks to assist Arrowtown’s subsequent stage of progress.
Philip-Sorensen mentioned: “At Sorven Capital, we search for founders with imaginative and prescient and goal and Arrowtown ticks the field. That is greater than only a great-looking model; it’s a enterprise constructed on values that matter: sustainability, authenticity, and daring creativity.
“The UK RTD market is ripe for disruption, and we consider Arrowtown has the crew, product, and power to change into a category-defining challenger. We’re proud to again an organization that not solely understands the place the market goes, but in addition what shoppers are actually in search of.”
The funding can be used to scale Arrowtown’s presence throughout retail, on-trade and main occasions, in addition to to develop its crew to assist demand.
The elevate comes throughout a breakout 12 months for the model, which is on observe to develop by greater than 300% this 12 months.
As well as, the model has launched with six new wholesale companions and secured listings in numerous channels, together with Anfield stadium and numerous flagship unbiased retailers. It’s also stocked in Midcounties Co-ops.
Arrowtown has additionally had presence at numerous summer season occasions. At Radio 1’s Large Weekend, the model beat its forecast gross sales by 56% and posted a 36% year-on-year enhance in models offered.
Co-founder Rob Smith mentioned: “We began Arrowtown with a easy mission: to make drinks match for the twenty first century – clear, mild, and refreshing, with actual flavour and not one of the garbage.
“Having bootstrapped the model for 3 years, this funding comes at a pivotal second as we construct momentum throughout retail, wholesale, and festivals. It should permit us to develop the crew and scale the enterprise as we proceed to take the struggle to the large boys.”
Earlier this 12 months, we checked out what’s driving the success of RTDs.
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