Gunner cocktails buck economic uncertainty with strong growth
Gunner Cocktails Ltd, the luxury cocktail brand founded by Burgh Island owner Giles Fuchs, has reported that sales have doubled year-on-year since the launch of its non-alcoholic, ready-to-drink Gunner Saint last year. With Q4 2022 seeing record trading, the company is well-positioned for significant further growth.
The firm’s leadership team attributes its ongoing success to the depth of relationships with key stockists. The period 2021/2022 has seen growth accelerate across premium venues, with The Hurlingham Club, Guards Polo Club, and Royal Lymington Yacht Club among a growing number of stockists. Now available in over half of the Open Rota courses, Gunner expects to be stocked comprehensively across sports centres and renowned golf clubs over the coming year, further developing its expansion in these sectors.
Availability across the hospitality sector has tripled, despite the industry still recovering from the effects of the pandemic, with multiple businesses incorporating Gunner in their post-pandemic rebuilding strategies. This is the case across all verticals, with hotels, restaurants, pubs, bars and bistros stocking the Gunner Saint.
Relationships with exclusive caterers at premier events continue to be formed, with Gunner Saint selected as a “drink of choice” at the recent Rod Laver Cup pre-event dinner and at the Masterpiece Art Fair recently held at Royal Hospital Chelsea. Further partnerships are currently being discussed with other leading sports venues and event organisers.
Such comprehensive growth has seen the Gunner team expand with new appointments across a range of functions. Chief among these is Head of Sales, Edward Hoskins, who joined in February this year and brings with him 18 years’ experience across business development and operations. The appointment reflects Gunner’s commitment to sourcing highly experienced senior team members and has enabled the business to defy the stagnation seen across many industries. The company also remains unaffected by global supply shortages to date due to its reliance on locally sourced ingredients, providing a strong foundation for future growth and improving Gunner’s resilience in the face of any further economic turbulence.
Gunner’s unique business model saw the company turn down corporate fund investment to seek individual shareholders through the respective networks of its senior executives, with investors well-versed in the previous successes of founder Giles Fuchs (Office Space in Town, Burgh Island Hotel) and ensuring all investors share in the same passion for the brand as its creators.
The Gunner range of products is also set to be expanded, with the soon to be launched, Gunner Rum Sinner, which will be the first alcoholic beverage produced by the company, made with aged dark rum, following successful research and development on a range of new alcoholic varieties. Additionally, the low-sugar Skinny Saint will be added to a growing portfolio of beverages expected to roll out over the coming months.
Gunner has now completed second round of funding, with the additional funds earmarked for investment in the significant development of the brand and product range. Furthermore, relationships with international importers are well underway with agreements close to being finalised, reflecting the ongoing aggressive growth ambitions of the business.
Dannie Macdonald, Managing Director at Gunner Cocktails, commented: “We are delighted to have secured such strong growth over the last twelve months and have ambitious sales targets for the year ahead. We are on track to become the drink of choice for lovers of classic cocktails with a modern twist and are proud of our ever-growing partnerships with clubs, pubs, and restaurants across the country. This illustrates Gunner’s strength, and the planned broadening of our product range will serve to further enhance our position in the sector. Next year should see further strong growth and Gunner recognised as a high-quality new addition to the drinks market, proud to be made in Britain and offering a refreshingly different option for the UK’s consumers.”
