Double Dutch, the producers of award-winning premium mixers and tonics, has announced the completion of its latest funding round, securing £4m investment. The news comes after the female-founded brand grew distribution by 63% in the last year alone.
As the market player with the fastest volume growth in category, the premium drinks brand has completed this latest round of funding to grow the brand in the UK, strengthen its sales team and drive growth in export, with a primary focus on its secondary home market, Benelux, the UAE, and planning entry to the APAC region. As part of its mission to double the expectations of mixers, Double Dutch has now secured the backing of more than 40 F&B and hospitality industry investors, including the likes of the Heineken - De Carvalho Family.
The new funding is part of plans to ready the drinks brand for its next stage of growth, where Double Dutch will be using a proportion of the £4m funding secured towards strengthening the brand in its UK domestic market to build brand awareness. Innovation continues to be a key brand focus, with new trending mixer flavours planned over the next two years to meet consumers' tastes.
The brand also plans to expand the drinking occasions for Double Dutch consumers, expanding into new adult soft drink categories, and supported with a social-first strategy and integrated marketing campaigns to ensure the brand remains first-to-market with innovative new product development. The investment will be used to drive deeper distribution in the on and off-trade, including new markets, with the UAE pinpointed as a key target for its all-year-round no/low opportunity.
The rapid growth has also led the inspiring drinks brand to expand the Double Dutch team across sales and HR, both in the UK and in export markets. The appointment of an HR manager brings with it a new global recruitment strategy.
To cement its position in the UAE region, Double Dutch has appointed Benita Bohsali as Head of International Growth, who has previously supported businesses including MMI, Red Bull and Heineken. In her new role, Bohsali will be responsible for strategic and commercial planning, with a focus on the key cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi to increase on and off-trade listings and drive overall growth for the brand.
Raissa & Joyce de Haas, co-founders of Double Dutch, commented: “We're delighted with the continued support from our investor partners and looking forward to them being a part of the next stage of our journey. We're super proud to now be one of the fastest-growing mixer brands and can't wait to see our further growth in the UK, Benelux and beyond.”
Ewan Venters, CEO at Hauser & Wirth and Investment Director at Double Dutch, added: “Watching Double Dutch grow into one of the most dynamic businesses in the drinks industry today has been a real pleasure. Their stratospheric rise in the world of mixers has been through incredible hard work, a robust strategy and an unwavering vision to shake up the mixer market.
“As their Investor Director, it's been exciting to help shape the next stage of business acceleration with the planned impact of this fundraise on their growth ambitions. This brand is one to watch.” Double Dutch is now stocked in more than 45 countries around the world, including as the exclusive tonic for Soho House globally.
The drinks take inspiration from the world of natural flavours, with unique, bold and unexpected flavour pairings, made with high quality ingredients and no artificial flavouring, colours or preservatives. All the products are naturally vegan and gluten free, and as part of the twin founders' mission to do business the right way, the brand is proudly Carbon Neutral and is pursuing B-corp status.
