Dash Water backed by Johnny Sexton raises €9.8m and targets European expansion
Co-founders of Dash, Jack Scott and Alex Wright
Dash, the zero-sugar, zero-calorie seltzer company based in the UK and known for infusing wonky fruit in its drinks, has announced the completion of an €9.8 million Series A funding round.
The round was led by transatlantic investors Beringea, which has previously backed Monica Vinader, Lucky Saint, and Papier. New investors who took part included Johnny Sexton, Ireland’s rugby captain, and David Milner, Dash’s chairman and former CEO of F&B titans Tyrells, Lily’s Kitchen, and St Pierre Bakery.
Listed in more than 10,000 stores globally, B-Corp certified Dash currently leads the UK seltzer category with a 39% share of value sales and is aiming to take the Irish market by storm. Its products are listed across independent shops in Ireland such as DonnyBrook Fair, and in offices like Microsoft, TikTok and Linkedin.
Other investors in the round included the founders of Sipsmiths, Beavertown, and former Manchester United footballer Patrice Evra.
Alex Wright, Dash’s co-founder, commented: “Our cans are flying off the shelves in Ireland, it’s incredible! Stocked in offices and independent shops alone, we sold 1/4 million cans last year and this latest investment will give us the firepower we need to change the way people look at soft drinks for good. We’re delighted to have Johnny on board to help grow the brand in Ireland and raise awareness about the issue of food waste. Health and sustainability have never been more important in Ireland, so we’re excited to see what the future holds.”
Commenting on the new business venture, Johnny Sexton said: “I always have a fridge stocked full of Dash, they make drinking healthy so easy and uncompromising on taste. I’m excited to be a part of its journey to fight food waste, bringing it to more stores across Ireland – the Irish love it already!”
Notable moments from the past year include a highly successful viral marketing campaign, where a wonky aubergine advert was banned from the London Underground by the TFL. The campaign reached over three million people across social media in under two days.
Dash has gained a loyal following among health-conscious consumers, including high-profile names such as David and Victoria Beckham, and Vogue Williams who are looking for tasty, sustainable alternatives to traditional sugary sodas.
