Investment firm backs UK producer in billion dollar low alcohol brand

With the rise and rise of the no and low alcohol category, global investment firm, Lightspeed Venture Partners, has handpicked UK producer, The Clean Liquor Company, from 50 other global competitors to become the global leader in the low and no alcohol category.

The Clean Liquor Co. raised a $2M plus seed round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, the investors behind global powerhouses such as Snapchat and Goop.

Nicole Quinn, partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, said: “I look for businesses that are doing things differently, but that are not just disruptive but rather represent a generational behavioural shift. We want to build a business for the long run. And if that business is a celebrity’s business, the most important thing is true authenticity.”

Spencer Matthews, founder of The Clean Liquor Company said: “The Clean Liquor Company was born out of a passion to make no and low alcohol products positive. Rather than non-alcoholic, non-flavour, non-fun, we wanted to create something that answered the demand for quality and flavour but without the negative effects of alcohol.”

Since its launch in November The Clean Liquor Company has already sold out twice, is now in 496 Sainsbury’s stores, is available across a number of Caprice Holdings venues and is currently focusing on international expansion with plans to launch in India, Singapore, Australia and the US.

With the goal of becoming the world’s first choice for low alcohol drinks, The Clean Liquor Company will produce a range of products targeted to different markets. The next product in the pipeline is a rum, which is receiving finishing touches from the master distiller.

The Clean Liquor Company launched at a time when the mindful drinking movement has seen significant growth with people taking a more considered approach to drinking creating new opportunities. On-trade sales of no and low alcohol have risen by 48% in the UK in the last 12 months and it’s estimated to be a £60M-a-year sector, with that growth expected to continue over the next few years. With 61% of consumers wanting a better choice when it comes to non-alcoholic drinks, The Clean Liquor Company plans to create a globally recognised portfolio of low alcohol drinks to answer that demand for quality and flavour without the alcohol.