Fitch Brew Co Heads to the USA
Andy Deeley and Emily Fitch-Deeley, co-founders of cold brew coffee and teas producer, Fitch Brew Co, may be familiar to many of our readers having appeared at BIO2018 and, more recently, in NX Magazine. They’ve been ever present on social media, chronicling their amazing growth and, recently, overseas expansion. It’s great to see hard work paying off for such an industrious and likeable couple….oh, and by the way, at the same time that their expansion news hit, Emily gave birth to a new Deeley… congratulations!
So where will the Fitch range be hitting the shelves? The USA! The new contract is described as an ‘unparalleled opportunity’ for the York-based soft drinks brewery, and worth £2.6 million over the next five years. Ironically, Andy and Emily were originally inspired by the American market to found the business when they developed a passion for cold brew coffee whilst there on holiday.
They realised there was a gap in the UK market for low calorie, low sugar soft drinks and founded FITCH in 2017, explains Andy. “Our ethos from day one with FITCH was to showcase 100 per cent natural, real ingredients and develop craft around producing flavoursome and healthy soft drinks. We were bored of the soft drinks available on the market and with companies taking shortcuts around ingredients.”
By that summer they had sold their first can of Cold Brew Coffee made from purified water and ethically-sourced, natural ingredients.
So the opportunity to enter the US market was serendipitous, but one which didn’t come with a bucketful of challenges, even though this wasn’t Fitch’s first foray overseas with the brand already exporting to Spain, France, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The US push is with distributor KeHE and will see Fitch’s full range of products available in the world’s number one cold brew market, with KeHE supplying more than 30,000 stores across the North America.
International Trade Secretary Liz Truss added, “Keeping global trade flowing is more important than ever for businesses like FITCH Brew Co. I am proud of our continued work to support UK exporters during this challenging time.
“This is a great example of how demand in the US for UK food and drink is booming and the industry is one of many that will feel the positive impact of a free trade agreement.”
However, the business is not resting on this success or the estimates of a 300% increase in turnover. The soft drinks company has two new products currently in development, with plans underway to enter more markets and scale-up production.
We wish all three Deeley’s every success in their expansion and look forward to catching up in the future to see how Fitch’s incredible rise has continued.
info@fitchbrewco.com
07916 148878
https://fitchbrewco.com
More in Food & Drink Suppliers
New disruptive plant-based Clean Kitchen Club valued at £7.5m after £1.4m...
Founders – Made in Chelsea’s Verity Bowditch and former YouTube personality Mikey Pearce – close £1.4m seed round with £7.5m valuation
Available now: Oxford Rye Whisky The Graduate
For those who enjoyed our initial whisky releases or for those encountering Oxford Rye for the first time, this is The Graduate. Ticking all the boxes of our signature style, the flavours of our fourth batch are bigger, bolder and with an acquired complexity.
Johnnie Walker launches new keep walking campaign to get the world...
Johnnie Walker, the world’s number one Scotch Whisky wants to inspire people to Keep Walking towards a more positive future with the latest chapter in its iconic global campaign.
From this author
B4 Members enjoy the company of a living legend of the...
In December at Keble College, Peter Bennett-Jones, representing the Lord-Lieutenant as one of her Deputy Lieutenants, officially endorsed Raise’24. As an established television and film producer and agent, we were delighted to recently announce that Peter has agreed to become our Patron.
Seven companies relocating to The Oxford Trust’s new Oxford Centre for...
Seven science and tech start-ups and SMEs are to move from The Oxford Trust’s current Oxford Centre for Innovation to its new location at Blue Boar Court, Alfred Street, in Oxford’s city centre.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
B4 Ecosystems are an opportunity for B4 Members to share challenges, be inspired and learn from experts in their field. They began with our Business Development Ecosystem back in March 2023, which has been lead from day one by the always impressive Caroline O’Connor of Fourth Born. Caroline has been leading from the front as our other Ecosystems learn from her impressive example. Article by B4’s Richard Rosser