An English rosé brand that claims to “challenge the established worlds of provence and champagne” has smashed its crowdfunding target to raise over £650k in 24 hours.
Tonbridge-based Folc has raised nearly £900k from more than 110 investors, with 30 days to spare on its crowdfunder on Republic.
Intended to launch Folc into EBITDA profitability within two years, the growth round will help Folc accelerate its national distribution, take market share and launch more “tongue-in-cheek marketing campaigns poking fun at the French”, said co-founder and CEO Tom Cannon.
“We’re delighted with the response to the campaign and incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received from both existing customers and new investors,” he added. “Hitting our target is a real vote of confidence in the brand, but for us this is just the beginning.”
Last year, Folc was sent a cease-and-desist letter by Bollinger’s UK distributor over social media posts promoting its English sparkling rosé with the line: “None of the same old Bollie… It’s not champagne, it’s pink champers.”
Rather than making its own wine, Folc operates a “capital-light négociant model” where manufacturing partner Defined Wine produces still and sparkling rosé from multiple vineyards’ grapes.
Folc has sold over 100,000 bottles since launch, largely through on-trade partnerships, including Young’s and Fuller’s. Just over a quarter of its sales are made direct-to-consumer.
It turned over £440k in revenue in the year to 30 September 2025, up 44.4% on 2024. That growth has since accelerated with the October 2025 launch of its sparkling rosé, and net sales in the year to date have risen 103%.
Winning placements in the major mults was therefore “important but not integral” to the company’s growth strategy, said Cannon.
Currently distributed through Ocado, Folc has nevertheless over the past two years enjoyed interest from several other supermarkets, and according to Cannon is now nearing the point where another distribution deal would be both possible and make sense.
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