Pinkster gin steps up expansion plans

By Gemma McKenna

Published: 23 December, 2014

Raspberry gin brand Pinkster has stepped up expansion plans after securing a six-figure sum in second-round financing from an angel investor.

Pinkster gin Pinkster gin ratchets up expansion plans after securing second-round financingJoint founder and managing director Stephen Marsh recently left his job as a finance director to focus full-time on the business.

The company, launched last year, has also just signed distribution deals with Coe Vinters, which will focus on the on-trade in the south-east and Gordon and MacPhail, which should boost its Scottish activity.

Pinkster switched production to G&J Distillers in June and is now looking for a brand ambassador.

Director Will Holt told Harpers.co.uk: "As well as us partners digging deep, we have one or two private investors who are bankrolling us and taking advantage of Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) breaks.

"The money allows us to scale up the business to the next level - accelerate distillation batch sizes, overheads (recruiting brand ambassador and support), sales and marketing, explore export opportunities and so forth. We have a reasonably ambitious three year business plan in place."

As well as boosting its sales team, the brand is providing ongoing trade support via PR, experiential marketing, and attendance at major events including BBC Good Food Show, Foodies Festivals and Taste of London.

Joint founder and managing director Stephen Marsh recently left his job as a finance director to focus full-time on the business.

Marsh said: "As a pink gin, all eyes are now on Valentine's Day. Given our quirky brand character Colonel Pinkster, you can expect us to be approaching this with our trademark mischievousness; qualities the potential brand ambassador will require in spades too."

Pinkster's range of Valentine's Day cocktails and supporting POS will be launched in the New Year.

The gin is made using fresh raspberries hand-steeped in the core spirit, which it says results in a dry gin with a hint of fruit and a smooth finish.

Pinkster is available in 70cl bottles with a rrp of £34.

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