Big Drop’s new London home.
Market-leading alcohol-free brewer, Big Drop, has entered into a licence agreement with In Good Company, the owner of Fourpure Brewing and Magic Rock Brewing.
The move is part of Big Drop’s plans to significantly scale its business and facilitate global growth ambitions by fully integrating with brewing partners in three of its key markets: the United Kingdom, USA and Australia. With a successful track-record of contract brewing at Fourpure in Bermondsey, Big Drop sees this new partnership as an evolution of its decentralised business model that allows it to produce fresh 0.5% ABV beer anywhere in the world – locally and ethically – with minimal carbon footprint. It gives Big Drop the opportunity to swiftly increase revenues to in excess of £5m per year, thanks to In Good Company’s brewing capacity, direct draught accounts and well-established sales & marketing functions.
By adding Big Drop to its portfolio, the partnership also puts In Good Company in a strong position to meet the changing demands of craft beer consumers. According to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis the compound annual growth rate for the alcohol-free beer market in the UK will be +12% until 2026.
Steve Cox, CEO of In Good Company, said: “Big Drop has become an iconic alcohol-free brand and we’re excited about working more closely with them to provide greater efficiencies without compromising any of their values. This partnership means we can grow together under one roof with all brands in the portfolio enjoying the combined synergies they bring.”
Joseph Walsh, Managing Director of Big Drop, commented: “We’ve worked hard to build a solid platform for the Big Drop brand and this is undoubtedly the best route to scale the business for the future. Brewing under licence simplifies our supply chain and broadens our availability while still allowing us to invest in growth.”
Rob Fink, Founder of Big Drop, added: “We’re delighted that we are on this journey with In Good Company who have the perfect production facility in Bermondsey, have nailed our brew-to-strength techniques and have an extremely capable team behind them.”
Big Drop has become one of the world’s most successful brands of alcohol-free craft beer since launching in 2016. It has won over 100 international beer awards, including seven times World’s Best at the World Beer Awards which is more than any UK brewer. It has distribution in the UK via major pub chains including Mitchells & Butlers and Greene King as well as multiple retailers: Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Morrisons and Ocado. Investors who have supported the growth of the business with a total of £9.5m of investment to date include: Mark Hunter (Former Molson Coors Global President & CEO), Stefan Orlowski (Former Heineken President Europe & Americas) and Alastair Smith (Former Managing Director of IWSR).
Further information
Big Drop’s Awards & Accolades
Big Drop’s Pale Ale was named World’s Best Pale Beer (low strength) at the World Beer Awards 2017.
Its Stout won a Gold Medal at the International Beer Challenge and a UK Silver Medal at the World Beer Awards when judged against full-strength stouts and porters. It also won a Gold medal at the US Open Beer Championship.
Its Citra IPA was crowned ‘King of Craft’ at the 2019 Casual Dining show, which was dominated by full-strength beers. It also won the overall Champion’s trophy for ‘Non and Low Alcohol Beer’ at The International Brewing and Cider Awards and a Silver medal at the US Open Beer Championship.
Big Drop was also one of three ‘Best Drinks Producers’ in the 2018 BBC Food & Farming Awards.
“Big Drop specialises in alcohol-free beer and it’s all good. I tried the pale ale and the lager, too, and both are excellent, but the stout really is the business.” — Adrian Chiles, The Guardian
“The most impressive no/low alcohol beer I have ever tried; no argument, it just is.” — Melissa Cole, British Guild of Beer Writers
“In my view, by far the best of the low-alcohol brigade is Big Drop Brewing Co. All its beers come in at just 0.5%, and all of them are excellent – the stout in particular is a jaw-dropper. Superb flavour without compromise.” — Olly Smith, Mail on Sunday
About Big Drop
Big Drop was launched in 2016 as the world’s first brewer dedicated to alcohol-free beer by the-then City lawyer, Rob Fink and long-time friend James Kindred.
Both had recently become fathers and were looking to cut back on the booze but could not find any decent alternatives to their favourite craft beers.
Along with experimental brewer, Johnny Clayton, they perfected techniques to make a range of 0.5% abv beer styles – but crucially without the need for alcohol extraction – resulting in a fuller-flavour.
Big Drop has won over 40 major international beer titles including four times being judged ‘World’s Best’ at the World Beer Awards and beating full-strength beers in blind tastings.
Big Drop contract brews in batches through a network of brewing partners worldwide, meaning it can produce fresh beer – locally and ethically – with a minimal carbon footprint.
Recognised as the market leader in the rapidly growing AF craft beer sector, Big Drop can now be found in over 10,000 locations – including throughout Europe, Australia, Canada and – soon to be – the US. In the UK, Big Drop has listings with major pub groups (eg Mitchells & Butlers), restaurant chains (eg Nando’s) and retailers (eg Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Morrisons and Ocado) as well as on the High Street with Holland & Barrett and on doorsteps with Milk & More.
Its range of beers, which are all <0.5% abv, currently consists of: Stout, Lager, Pale Ale, Citra IPA, Brown Ale, Golden Ale, Hazelnut Porter and a Sour as well as special editions and collaborations with other leading brewers.
Further information: [email protected]