AN EDINBURGH start-up whose sport drink is aimed at alleviating nausea has signed a deal with outdoor retailer Tiso that will see the product sold in stores across Scotland.

Established by Will Townsend, a graphic designer and web developer, and George Ashley, who works in business development in the pharmaceuticals industry, Active Root is focused on making natural sports drinks for use by athletes of all levels.

Mr Ashley said the pair, who are both keen cyclists and runners, came up with the idea for their first product, which is also called Active Root, after finding that “current sports drinks did nothing to help avoid or alleviate nausea or stomach discomfort before, during and after sport”.

“Ginger is a natural gastric settler and has anti-inflammatory properties so we decided to put the two together - the conventional benefits of a sports drink with the natural gastric attributes of ginger,” he said.

While the drink is already stocked by specialist running shop Run and Become in Edinburgh, the Tiso deal marks the first time it has been sold in shops nationwide. The chain is stocking the drink in six of its nine outlets, from Aberdeen to Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Procurement manager Susie Stevanovic said it was “great to have a new Edinburgh-born brand on board”.