By Scott Wright
LEADERS at Women’s Enterprise Scotland leaders have launched a crowdfunding drive to back the development of a alcohol-free gin and tonic – and pledged that any profits it makes will support female-led business projects.
Lynne Cadenhead, Carolyn Currie and Gaynor Simpson of WES have launched a new venture, Immaculate Drinks to produce a range of alcohol-free drinks. They are aiming to raise £100,000 of seed funding by the end of the month, and have so far attracted pledges of nearly £7,000 from scores of investors.
The trio are working with Hamish Martin of The Old Curiosity Distillery near Edinburgh on the gin, which they say will fill a gap in the market. And they have pledged to pour 50 per cent of profits into female-led businesses.
Ms Cadenhead said: “Immaculate bridges two huge gaps in the market. One is the need for a premium, botanical, low sugar, alcohol-free drink, a welcome alternative to the sugar and chemical laden choices that are on offer now. Secondly, the continued, untapped potential of women-led businesses which could benefit from expert, needs-based growth support and resources, yet still lack access to this bespoke support. The result is Immaculate Drinks, completely natural, steeped in provenance and developed with authenticity, integrity and wellbeing at our heart, right here in Scotland. Our mission now is to reach our £10,000 target by 30 December so we can bring our first non-alcoholic G&T product to market in early 2020.”
Working with Royal Bank of Scotland and Crowdfunder UK , the venture needs to raise £10,000 by December 30 to be successful. Ms Cadenhead said: “Just 20 per cent of SMEs in Scotland are majority owned by women and this persistent gender gap is woeful. Until we provide the expert, gender specific support which women business leaders stand to benefit from, we are literally leaving millions of pounds on the table which could be going into the Scottish economy.”
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