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CHERRYGOOD IS THE UK'S FASTEST GROWING JUICE

We have just found out that we are now the UK's fastest growing juice drink....which is awesome.
We would like to thank all our wonderful drinkers and please do let us know your thoughts and how we can keep growing and making sure that you love your cherries

Cheers

John
the founder

UK’S FASTEST GROWING JUICE DRINK ANNOUNCES RECORD TURNOVER DESPITE LACK OF BANK SUPPORT

The owners of the fastest growing juice drink in the country have launched an outspoken attack on Britain’s banks.

Cherrygood is the UK’s first ready to drink cherry juice and has just reported a turnover of £1.2 million in its first year of operation. Listed in all the major supermarkets it is more successful than Innocent in its first year of trading.

But the company blames a lack of support from the high street banks which they claim has hindered their rate of growth and worldwide expansion plans.

The company is the brainchild of entrepreneur John Heseltine, who has already created a natural fruit juice retail chain – Lovejuice –  and his business partner Martin Hall.

John says: ‘Getting a small business off the ground is not the easiest thing to do in this economic climate. We went to all the high street banks for support but they were all dismissive of our idea. Every single one turned us down.

‘We needed £500,000 to launch the business and, despite having successfully launched and sold a previous fruit juice company, no one was interested in backing us. And there was no help from the controversial Enterprise Initiative Scheme.

‘We knew we had a great idea and we refused to give up. It’s that belief and optimism which makes a business happen. So, we found an industry veteran who invested in us and Martin and I put the rest of the finance in ourselves.

‘Today we are still not being supported by the banks – which is far from ideal – but in spite of them not being willing to help we are a profitable and growing business and on sale in all the major multiples.’

This success is all the more remarkable considering the storm that has hit the juice and smoothie market. After two years of falling value and volume sales, miserable summers and soaring input costs caused by poor fruit harvest and the weak pound, the carnage is manifest. Sales of juices and smoothies have fallen by £114m in the past two years.

Cherrygood has recently received its second tranche of capital injected in to the business from its original angel investor.

After getting the company off the ground with its Cherry Original and Cherry Berry, they have just launched a new product called Original Cherry Light. This is a low sugar version of the hugely popular Original Cherry juice for the calorie conscious consumer.

And they are expanding overseas. Due to the phenomenal success in the UK market, the company has been approached by an ever increasing number of companies who would like to start distributing Cherrygood in many new European territories. The company is now selling directly to a leading distributor in both Greece and Cyprus and has also entered the Spanish market.

John says: ‘Cherrygood has been trading for 14 months and in its first year of operation had a turnover of £1.2 million. When this is compared to Innocent’s reported first year sales of only £200,000 then we are rather pleased with the progress of the brand.

‘We are now listed in all the major multiples and have gained further store distribution. Sales have been increasing month on month as consumers become aware of the wonderful taste of our products and the amazing inherent health benefits of cherry juice.

‘In terms of new product launches we are the fastest growing new juice drink on the market. And this is against a backdrop of decline in the juice and smoothies market which has seen sales plummet by £114 million in the past two years.

‘We are breathing life into the juice market with the only brand of cherry juice available in every supermarket in the UK, as well as lots of other places.

‘Our aim is to become a mainstream global family brand. I want to see Cherrygood taking its place alongside apple, orange and cranberry juice in the fridge of every home.

‘Everyone has a special cherry memory because it’s such a well known fruit that people have enjoyed throughout their lives – from fresh cherries and iced cherry lollies to cherry medicine and the cherry lip sweets of our childhood.

‘No-one has made cherry juice work before, but it has a great taste and even better health benefits. We work closely with the famous Michigan growers and have done a lot of work on product development to make a palatable blend which will appeal to children and adults. It’s a very pure product.

Cherrygood has seen a 100% year on year growth as it expands its range and the rate of sale grows weekly in the supermarkets.

The entrepreneurs introduced tart cherry juice to the UK after being inspired by its popularity in the States.
John says: ‘I first came across fresh cherry juice while I was on holiday in America. It tasted great. And I thought people back home would love it too.’

With the help of a million dollars worth of research into the benefits of Montmorency cherries, which make up Cherrygood, they identified that tart cherries have fantastic health benefits and that there were no cherry juice drinks in the market.

Scientifically proven to contain higher levels of antioxidants than pomegranate, blueberry, grapes and cranberry juice drinks, Montmorency cherries are packed with health giving properties,.

Martin, marketing director and co-founder of Cherrygood Ltd, who met John at a drinks fair in London, says: ‘Cherrygood is a fantastic healthy fruit juice drink perfect for all the family. People have told us they like it for its powerful combination of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals and the fact it tastes great.’