Shorts Boy Distillery and The Tidal Rum Seeks Funding for Expansion Drive and NPD

Shorts Boy Distillery (SBD), a prominent and fast-growing UK-based player in the global rum market, is seeking funding (EIS legible) to fuel its ambitious growth plans. Co-founded by Harry Coulthard and Ben Clyde-Smith, SBD - which owns The Tidal Rum brand - has rapidly established itself in the competitive $15 billion US global rum market.

Since its inception in 2019, SBD has achieved remarkable growth, particularly with its flagship product, The Tidal Rum, which has seen an average year-on-year sales growth of 123%. With a strong foothold in the UK market and successful expansions into cruise and travel retail, SBD is now poised to increase its presence in France, Germany, and other European markets. The Tidal Rum has just agreed to supply Lord’s Cricket Ground for the summer of cricket with its award -winning rum.

Harry Coulthard, Co-founder of The Tidal Rum, said: "Our ambition for Tidal Rum is to become a globally recognized name in the ultra-premium rum category and own the craft rum space. We aim to bring our unique spirits to rum enthusiasts, elevating the category while expanding our footprint in key markets across Europe and beyond."

Details of the investment opportunity can be found at Seedrs.

Key Achievements to Date:

Product Launch and Growth: Introduced The Tidal Rum in 2019, achieving consistent growth with a 123% average year-on-year increase in sales.

Sales Performance: Doubled bottle sales year-on-year from July 2022 to July 2023.

Market Penetration: Secured listings with major wholesalers in the UK, Jersey, and travel retail.

Brand Recognition: Established as a key player in the ultra-premium rum category.

Engaged Audience: Built a loyal following with over 20,000 social media followers and newsletter subscribers.

Prestigious Venues: Featured in renowned bars, hotels, and restaurants including Stanley’s, Bourne & Hollingsworth, The White Horse Brancaster, The Atlantic Hotel Jersey, Burnt Orange, and Maison François.

Innovative Partnerships and Travel Retail Presence: Listed in major UK airports and partnered with Carnival UK and P&O Cruises. Created the first rum distilled at sea in collaboration with P&O Cruises.

Award-Winning Products: Recognized with numerous awards, including A.A.'s Best Taste 100 Award and Gentleman’s Journal Spirit of the Year Award.

Media Coverage: Featured in leading newspapers and on UK television, including Saturday Kitchen.

Monetisation Strategy:

SBD's revenue is primarily driven by the sale of its premium rum products, including The Tidal Rum, Golden Tide, Tidal Spiced, and related merchandise. The company employs a dual distribution strategy, partnering with distributors for on-trade and off-trade markets while also selling directly to customers via its website.

Use of Proceeds:

Internal Sales & Marketing: Enhance internal sales and marketing efforts to support the next phase of growth.

Working Capital: Ensure operational stability and prevent inventory shortages by bolstering working capital.

UK Distribution: Expand distribution partnerships to strengthen market presence in the UK.

European Distribution: Invest in expanding the distribution network within the EU, with a focus on France and Germany.

Travel Retail: Maintain presence at major global travel events and support in-store retail initiatives.

New Products: Develop new products, including the upcoming Tidal Spiced variant, and explore opportunities in the ultra-premium SKU segment.