Ready-to-serve cocktails brand ‘shakes up’ industry following 400 per cent growth

Whitebox Cocktails is launching a Seedrs crowdfunding campaign with the goal of raising £450k to further grow the Edinburgh and London based ready-to-serve cocktail business.

The investment will be used to continue the brand’s rapid growth in the UK and accelerate international expansion. Whitebox is seeking investors who want to support the brand’s journey to become the “global leader” of classic ready-to-serve cocktails. The pitch launches on Tuesday June 13 on the Seedrs platform.

Whitebox is one of the fastest-growing independent cocktail brands in the UK and one of the first bartender-owned producers of ready-to-serve cocktails.

The founding team of drinks industry professionals includes Alex Lawrence, brand director for the Mr Lyan studios, Ben Iravani, founder of Aberdeen cocktail bars Orchid and 99 Bar, Pietro Collina, former bar director of the NoMad Hotel Group, Josh Rennie, co-founder of Porters Gin, and Jack Wareing, Dandelyan alumni and current head of R&D for Whitebox.

The brand’s portfolio currently includes the award-winning Pocket Negroni and Freezer Martini, along with a growing range of classic cocktails, including Chipper’s Old Fashioned, Classic Cosmo, Squeezy’s Margarita, Tiny Tee’s Dirty Martini, and Prêt À Boire Boulevardier, along with long drinks including Disco Baby, Hippy Fizz, and Whisky Highball.

In 2022, Whitebox Cocktails grew UK distribution from 60 to over 700 independent outlets. The brand has recently launched in Selfridges, as well as being stocked at leading independents including Shop Cuvée, Clapton Craft and Yield.

Whitebox has also recently secured a top distribution partner in the US, achieving 400 per cent sales growth in the first six months of trading. The brand has also begun exporting to Denmark, France and Ireland.

Over the next 12 months, Whitebox plans to more than double its number of cocktails to appeal to a wider audience of drinkers, increase its production capacity and distribution channels, grow its sales team, and further expand overseas markets.

Ben Iravani, co-founder, commented: “Having achieved 400 per cent sales growth in our first 6 months of trading in the US it’s an exciting time of growth for Whitebox Cocktails. For less than the price of a round of drinks, investors can join us on our journey to become the global leader of classic ready-to-serve cocktails.

“We’ll use the proceeds of the Seedrs raise to continue our rapid growth in the UK and the US, as well as accelerate international expansion of the brand as the distribution side of the business opens up.”

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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