Dash Water cans

Source: Dash Water

Dash will use some of the funds to extend its range of products and enter the on-trade

Dash Water has netted a £1.6m cash injection from angel investors, The Grocer can reveal.

The brand raised the sum from existing and new investors, including Brad Berman, a former director of Fiji Water, and John Ayton, co-founder of Links of London, as well as Bulldog Skincare’s Simon Duffy, Seedlip’s Nick Duke-Ambridge, Charles Tyrwhitt’s Nick Wheeler and founder of Radnor Hills Water William Watkins, and the Creative Investment Club.

Co-founder Alex Wright told The Grocer the funds would be used to grow the brand in Europe, boost its product range and enter the on-trade.

It has also hired a trio of new senior employees: former Danone account manager Alex Angel has joined as sales manager, former Lily’s Kitchen international business manager Roxane Wephre as head of international and Tom McAlpine, formerly of Grant Thornton, as head of finance.

“It’s clear that consumers are crying out for more natural unsweetened beverages and we believe Dash Water is the perfect product to shake up the UK’s £15.2bn soft drinks category,” said Wright.

The brand has also added a new 750ml glass bottle format for its Raspberry and Cucumber flavours (rsp: £2.95). They hit Ocado, Whole Foods Market, Daylesford and John Lewis this month, as well as “a number of premium restaurants”.

The brand was founded by Wright and Jack Scott in June 2017. It uses surplus British fruit & veg in its drinks, which contain no sugar, sweetener or calories.