UK’s The Friday Beer Co. Seeks £150,000 on Crowdcube For Expansion

Last week, UK-based The Friday Beer Co. launched an equity crowdfunding campaign on Crowdcube with a mission to raise £150,000 for expansion.

The Friday Beer Co., which was founded in 2011 by three research scientists, Gerald Williams, Perry Jackson, and Andrew Keir, produces a range of Premium Bottle Ales (PBA) with what they believe is to be “world beating taste and quality.” The company shared:

“Friday is often a day to buy beer for the weekend, and we are trademarked as the ‘Official Sponsors of the Weekend.’ Our vision sees us as a brewery that will sell PBAs nationwide, and within a couple of years export to the large bottle ale markets such as the USA. We aspire to be the UK’s next ‘Brewdog’ style of business and we see our company expanding over the years towards “Friday” branded city based bars with novel “beer tank” dispensing systems selling our Premium Ales.

 

“In 4 years we have built a brand that sells bottled ales to over 50 outlets including prestige hotels, restaurants and wine shops, plus many other outlet types found across the West Midlands region. We were also selected to become sold in Harrods’ Wine shop in Knightsbridge since June 2014.

 

“We have sold own-branded ales to the “5 star bar” at the Land & Sky Glamping site at Glastonbury Festival as well as to a range of local companies. This list of ‘customer-branded ales’ produced by us has also included the provision of a special batch of PBA for the RAF Battle of Britain commemoration dinner at RAF Cosford which was attended by Spitfire pilots from WW2.

 

“Sales during our three years of trading increased by 100% from year 1 to 2 and this year are up by another 35%. Our sales and production expansion beyond this requires larger brewing equipment, more staff and the economies of scale through the ability to purchase raw materials and packaging in bulk. This will improve our margins and lead towards phase 2 of our expansion plan which is based around a new brewery site.

 

“We are in discussions with Asda and hope to be selling to several leading supermarkets in 2016.”

Explaining what the funds would be used for, The Friday Beer Co. noted that the funds would be used for new equipment, more staff, larger raw materials and packaging purchases. Those that invest in the company will receive the following:

• Invest £20: “As a thank you for your investment we will send, to your door, a Friday Beer Coaster to put your glass of beer on.”
• Invest £100: “Thank you for your investment. For £100, we will supply you with a lifetime discount card entitling you to 5% off all purchases at the brewery or from our on-line shop.”
• Invest £1,000: “A huge thank you for your investment. We are pleased to issue you with a lifetime discount card entitling you to 10% off all purchases from the brewery or through our on-line shop. During the months of November and December, you will get 15% discount.”
• Invest £5,000: “Apart from the discount card mentioned you will also receive a unique one-off gift. A hand-made Friday-Beer branded wooden beer-crate filled with 12 bottles of our premium ale. These crates will be produced and distributed over the first few months and will be shipped to your door.”
• Invest £10,000: “All of the above thank-you gifts will be supplemented with a unique limited edition “Friday Beer Co” branded hoodie. Only the qualifying investors will have this top quality item of clothing.”
• Invest £20,000: “For investments of £20k and greater you will receive all of the above rewards. Plus as a special thank you we will issue a personal invite for a red-letter day of brewing. This will not include any travel or accommodation expenses, but we will keep you supplied with tea and coffee and a substantial lunch. Plus you will take home a further deluxe “Friday Beer” branded hand-made wooden crate. Filled, of course with a selection of 12 bottles of our premium ales. We may also find one or two other small items of Friday Beer memorabilia.”

The company is currently offering both A and B shares. If a backer invests £5,000 or more they will receive A-shares which have full voting rights. If a backer invests less than £5,000 they will receive B-shares which have no voting rights or pre-emption.

Since its launch, The Friday Beer Co. has received over £42,000. It is set to close in mid-February.