Source: Didsbury Gin

The brand netted a £75,000 investment after appearing on Dragons’ Den

Didsbury Gin has hired former Matthew Clark spirits buying director and Halewood Wines & Spirits MD Andy Smallman as a board advisor.

Smallman, a 20-year drinks industry veteran, who led Halewood’s UK business from 2003 to 2015 and served at Matthew Clark from 2016 to this April, would “draw on his experience to develop a strong domestic sales strategy and assist in accelerating the brand’s already-growing sales channels”, said the brand.

He is currently leading a competitive tender to secure an exclusive distributor for the gin, which made headlines earlier this year when it netted a £75,000 investment from investor Jenny Campbell on TV show Dragons’ Den. 

Didsbury Gin co-founder Liam Manton said he was “delighted” to appoint Smallman. “We have no doubt that his expertise and ‘can-do’ attitude will make sure his appointment is a huge success.

“Didsbury Gin has gone from strength to strength since our Dragons’ Den appearance in January. We’ve crafted a space for our brand in what could be perceived as a congested market place, and as a company destined for further success it’s imperative we build both strong advisory and delivery teams who share our ambitions.”

Read more: flavoured gin craze sees Gordon’s Pink add £63m

Topics