British soft drinks brand Cawston Press has secured £1 million in an equity fundraising round as it aims to increase its sales internationally.
The total has been reached through existing shareholders, members of the Cawston Press team from the UK, Australia and USA, as well as a select number of private investors in the food and drink industry.
Cawston Press said that the funding comes at “a critical moment” for the brand, following the recent introduction of its no-added-sugar sparkling range in the UK, in response to the country’s sugar tax.
In 2017 the brand first launched into the US natural and speciality food channels and is now supporting this market with a bigger local team and new marketing programmes. Later this year, the brand’s sparkling drinks will be introduced in France.
Cawston Press’s products are currently sold in 20 countries.
The Cawston Press range consists of three lines: pressed juices, sparkling drinks and fruit waters.
Steve Kearns, managing director of Cawston Press, said: “Our team is made up of people who want to make better quality soft drinks the norm not the niche.
“When we initially considered undertaking a full external fundraising round, we quickly realised that there was sufficient appetite from within our own ‘Cawston crowd’ of founder shareholders, the management team and close industry contacts to raise the necessary money ourselves.
“We are delighted that many of the wider team have chosen to participate and now become shareholders in the business.”
Cawston Press said its business has doubled in size in the last three years and its products are sold in 20 countries.
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