Big Drop to launch £1m crowdfund to grow alcohol-free craft beer business
The Ipswich-based business will launch the campaign on the crowdfund site Seedrs next month as part of its bid to become the world’s leading alcohol-free craft beer brand. It is seeking to raise around £1m from the crowdfund.
Big Drop was founded in 2016 by former city lawyer Rob Fink and his best mate, designer and entrepreneur James Kindred. The company uses what it describes as a ‘radical new brewing technique’ that eradicates the need to extract alcohol after fermentation – an approach can impact on taste and mouthfeel.
The company is offering perks including merchandise, tickets to its Summer Family Event and Swedish brewery tour in exchange for investment.
It says it intends to use the funds to expand globally into the US and Australian markets and also to make its brand more accessible in the UK, making it available on draught in pubs and bars.
Its drinks are already listed in restaurants and bar including The Fat Duck, D&D London, The Draft House and All Bar One.
“We can increase customer awareness, build up our capacity and expand our catchment area, especially on draught,” says Fink.
The company, which produces non-alcoholic beers in classic stout, pale ale, IPA, and lager expressions, says that its turnover approached £1m in 2019.
The crowdfunded expansion comes at a time when consumers are seeking out low-and-no alcohol options in greater numbers. ONS figures indicate that nearly 25% of 16-24 year olds do not drink at all, and UK sales of alcohol-free beer rose 58% between 2017 and 2018 alone according to data insight company Kantar.
The better quality and more interesting zero-alcohol craft beer category is expected to grow this year with companies producing more interesting o% abv beers. Big Drop is already a leader in this are with its zero-alcohol hibiscus saison and a raspberry gose as well as its Big River black IPa and Lil IPL India pale lager.
BigHospitality and Restaurant magazine publisher William Reed is running a new trade show designed to support the growth of the low to no alcoholic drinks sector.
Called Low to No Bev, it is being held on 17 and 18 June 2020 at The Old Truman Brewery in London and will showcase a broad range of low and no-alcohol drinks brands from beers, ciders, wines and spirits, to craft sodas, adult soft drinks, cordials and mixers. Visit the website here
