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Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Burnt Faith launches Crowdcube funding push
Burnt Faith, the UK brandy business, is looking to raise funds through Crowdcube to invest in inventory and distribution. The company, set up in 2021, principally sells in the UK but, in recent months, has begun shipping to India. Speaking to Just Drinks, Burnt Faith founder Simon Wright said the Crowdcube push could be used to support a potential entry into the US. 'As part of the raise, if we do better than expected, then we will be looking at pushing an agreement with a distillery out in the US for access to a brandy out there,' Wright said. 'One of the things that we would do if we raised a good amount would be to expedite the inroads into that. At the moment, it's just a project there waiting on hold until we get some funds to support it, really.' Wright declined to put a potential timetable on a US launch. 'I wouldn't want to put anything down on paper in terms of 'we'll be launching in 2026' because it is depending [on the funding round] but there's an opportunity there for us in the future if we can raise the funds for it." He refused to be drawn on the amount Burnt Faith is looking to raise through the Crowdcube campaign, citing changes in the platform's disclosure policy. Last year, Burnt Faith, based in north-east London, raised £2m ($2.7m). Early investors have included Keith Greggor, the former co-owner of Anchor Brewing and once a shareholder in Skyy Spirits. The round valued Burnt Faith at £4.3m. In Burnt Faith's 2024/25 financial year, the company generated revenue of around £600,000, compared to £120,000 a year earlier. It is forecasting revenue of approximately £1.4m in its current 2025/26 financial year, Wright said. The business is moving into the RTD category, launching two products in the UK. 'These RTDs are another step in breaking down barriers to brandy. We want consumers to try new and explorative drinks but sometimes this needs to be in a format that encourages trial,' Wright said. The drinks – a Brandy & Apple variant and a Brandy & Ginger SKU – are 6.2% abv and have an RRP of £3.50. Talks with potential retail stockists are ongoing. Despite the range of spirit-based RTDs on sale in UK retailers, Wright believes Burnt Faith's products can prosper. 'I think talking to retailers, when it comes to spirit-based RTDs, they want the best from each category. Brandy as a liquid works really, really well in an RTD because the liquid so versatile," he said. "There hasn't been a premium brand anyway in the brandy category that's done an RTD yet. Hopefully by doing that, it'll bring some fresh life into the category because that's the problem with brandy, right? It's a bit staid and a bit traditional. Changing the format and putting brandy in different format will hopefully have quite a lot of appeal.' "Burnt Faith launches Crowdcube funding push" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Eater
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
At Long Last, the Gilroy Garlic Festival Has Returned
It was back in 2022 that the organizers of the Gilroy Garlic Festival let the greater garlic community know there'd be no more grand festivities, 'indefinitely.' Thankfully, the drought is over: from July 25 to 27, there'll be a smaller, more intimate garlic festival in Gilroy. Tickets are already waitlisted since, per the Mercury News , they sold out within hours. There'll be all the food, music, and activities of former fests, just on a smaller scale. The 3,000-person event will take place on the five-acre South County Grove next to the Gilroy Gardens theme park. In 2019, a gunman wounded 17 people and killed three attendees, and the festival went on hiatus in 2020 due to COVID-19. The festival then transitioned to a drive-thru version in 2021 and other smaller events, according to the Mercury News . The festival was founded in 1978 and became a keystone of the area's annual goings-on. Marina burger joint cited for rodent droppings Athleisure-clad diners on Chestnut Street may pause before eating at Super Duper Burgers next time. A routine city inspection found rodent droppings throughout the restaurant and bread containers stored on the floor. Though the original order instructed the restaurant's outpost to close, the San Francisco Chronicle reports the restaurant received a conditional pass; the original order's closure instruction was apparently an error. An Anchor Brewing update looks nonexistent Fans of Anchor Brewing have been waiting to see what new billionaire owner Hamdi Ulukaya would do with the steam beer-producing hometown hero. The San Francisco Standard took it upon themselves to figure it out. Unfortunately, there's been little activity since May 2024: there was a February Alcoholic Beverage Control permit secured, an April sighting of Ulukaya at Mexican restaurant Papito, and that's about it. Ciccio reopens after a fire It seems it's comeback season for two local restaurants that were hit by fires this spring. Niku Steakhouse made its comeback on Friday, May 30, after a fire in March. Now, Ciccio in Yountville — which suffered a minor fire at the end of April — is back in action as of Saturday, May 31. Mellow coffee lounge opens in Berkeley University Avenue's Wine So Cru is about to open a 'collaborative coffee lounge,' per an Instagram announcement. Styled as 42ndPour, the business will open Saturday, June 7, from 7 to 11 a.m., pouring the immaculate Hydrangea Coffee Roaster. There'll be East Bay-baked pastries and tea, too. Sign up for our newsletter.
Miami Herald
13-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Big beer brand closes breweries without filing Chapter 11 bankrutpcy
Many breweries start more as a dream than a business plan, In a lot of cases people go into the beer business because they love beer and want to follow their passion. That's sometimes a recipe for success, but there's a reason so many breweries, restaurants and other passion-based businesses fail. Related: Iconic ice cream, fast-food chain closing dozens of locations Passion goes only so far. Doing something you love can make it easier to put in long hours, make sacrifices, and do all the other things needed to give yourself a chance at success. A chance, however, is not the same as a guarantee. The competition in the beer business has become intense, with local breweries battling with regional and national brands. In many cases, markets have become saturated, so being really good is often not good enough. You must win recurring business in spaces where the biggest fans tend to want to try new things. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Add in the added debt loads that many breweries took on during Covid and you can see the uphill battle most breweries face. In recent months, that has led to a bloodbath. Dozens of breweries have closed, and now another beloved brand has abruptly joined that list. The so-called beerpocalypse has claimed dozens of once-successful brands including San Francisco's Anchor Brewing, a leader in the craft-beer space. A number of other brands, including Chicago's Metropolitan Brewing, New Jersey's Flying Fish, Denver's Joyride Brewing, Tampa's Zydeco Brew Werks, Wisconsin's Great Dane Brewing, and Cleveland's Terrestrial Brewing, also fell into bankruptcy. Some markets were literally destroyed as San Antonio lost Weathered Souls Brewing and Busted Sandal Brewing in fall 2024, and Freetail Brewing Co. ended its beer distribution operations following that. The list is long and it has claimed some companies that had proved to be more than just a hobbyist's dream. "In 2013, Jekyll Brewing opened its doors to the public, offering a range of beers that reflected the founders' commitment to quality, craftsmanship and innovation," the company website said. "The brewery quickly gained a following, with beer enthusiasts from all over the state of Georgia flocking to Alpharetta to taste the latest offerings from Jekyll Brewing." More bankruptcy: Iconic auto repair chain franchise files Chapter 11 bankruptcyPopular beer brand closes down and files Chapter 7 bankruptcyPopular vodka and gin brand files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy The brand grew to five locations - four in Georgia and one in Florida. The company also won numerous awards including gold and silver medals at the Great American Beer Festival and the U.S. Open Beer Championship. "Today, Jekyll Brewing is recognized as one of the leading craft breweries in the Southeast, and its beers are available in bars, restaurants, and retail stores throughout Georgia and other nearby states," it added. "Despite its success, the brewery remains committed to its roots and its mission to create unique, flavorful beers that reflect the spirit and character of the Georgia coast." Jekyll Brewing abruptly closed its doors on May 11, Mother's Day, with its own posting about the shutdown on a members-only local beer Facebook page. DigitalDen shared the news on an Atlanta beer Reddit page: "It seems Jekyll Brewing will be the latest brewery to close in metro Atlanta. After news in February that the company had stopped producing kegs, rumors swirled that there was a deeper issue with the business. "Those rumors were realized Tuesday when Jekyll Brewing owner Michael Lundmark confirmed the imminent closure of all Jekyll Brewing locations via a post on Atlanta Beer Society, a local Facebook page." All Jekyll Brewing locations closed at the end of service on May 11. Not every comment was sympathetic to Jekyll Brewing. "It would help if they made better beer," posted Furthur. "Jekyll had a great launch and Tart Vice and their Marzen were great. Hop Dang was solid too and it's variants were fun. As per the cyclic conversation we've been having for years now, the market is oversaturated and there are a few distro houses you can blame for buying up rights, pushing their products onto shelves competing with themselves." Related: Popular casual restaurant chain files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy In fact, most of the comments on the Reddit thread, leaned toward negative. "Saw that coming a mile location was never busy even during peak times, overpriced (but very tasty) food, sub-par beer," Brohamz wrote. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Miami Herald
17-04-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Another popular brewery closing, sets final day
The great beerpocalypse continues to wreak havoc on what used to be a thriving industry. You can trace the beginning of the downturn in the local craft-brewed beer market to the Covid pandemic. Many breweries had to close the public-facing parts of their operations and lost on party and event rentals. Related: Popular beer brand shuts down brewery, lays off employees In many cases, the brewers lost the most lucrative part of their business - selling directly to customers without a middleman. They kept their lower-margin wholesale business, but pubs were closed for months. During those dark days, brewery and brewpub owners did not have to stop paying rent, and they still had some employee costs. Debt levels climbed, creating a situation that required businesses to go back to pre-pandemic levels to support continued operations. In many cases, that simply did not happen. Many craft beers, breweries, and brewpubs have filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy, with some ending up being liquidated. This so-called "beerpocalypse" claimed big names, including San Francisco's Anchor Brewing, a titan of the craft beer space. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Increased debt loads and shrinking customer demand made making changes hard, which drove many regional favorites, including Chicago's Metropolitan Brewing, New Jersey's Flying Fish, Denver's Joyride Brewing, Tampa's Zydeco Brew Werks, and Cleveland's Terrestrial Brewing, into bankruptcy. Now, another victim has fallen, but there is some solace in what happens next for the popular brand. Great Dane Brewing has a long tradition that pre-dates the craft beer craze. "While it's common today to see a brew pub in cities across the country, that wasn't the case in the mid-90s. But that's when Eliot Butler and Rob LoBreglio, two college friends, set up shop on the corner of Doty Street in downtown Madison," the company shared on its website. At the time, breweries were generally the large national brands, and building a local brewpub was a new concept in many markets. Butler and LoBreglio not only had to build their brand, they had to educate consumers on the concept/ That's something they were successful in doing. "From there, they built the city's first brew pub – one that we're pretty proud to say has become a destination for our neighbors and visitors alike. With an obsession on service, hand-crafted food and brews, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, the Dane has continued to bring together friends and beers for more than 25 years," the company posted. Retail and restaurant bankruptcies: Popular restaurant and bar chain files for Chapter 11 bankruptcyPopular athletic shoe chain files for Chapter 11 bankruptcyAward-winning cosmetics brand files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy That brand expanded to multiple locations in Madison and the surrounding community. Now, one of those pubs is set to close. The Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company will close its Wausau location after service on Saturday, April 19. That was not an easy decision, according to Eliot Butler, who remains president of the company. "It's with a heavy heart that The Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company will be ending operations at our Wausau location. The financial challenges have become too burdensome to continue the business, as food costs continue to rise and consumer dining and drinking habits change," he shared in an open letter posted on the company's website. The Wausau location had been open for 15 years, and Butler was thankful to everyone who supported the brand. "We're so thankful to all of our staff and to our management team, vendors, and partners for all the hard work, effort and support they've given over the last 15 years, and it hurts to say goodbye. Also, and we can't say this enough: A huge shout of gratitude to our guests and to the community of Wausau for their patronage and for fully embracing the Great Dane," he added. But, while the Wausau location will close, the company will continue to operate its three Madison and one Fitchburg locations. Related: Popular whiskey brand files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy The company will also continue making the many beers it has become well-known for. "Our head brewmaster first traveled Europe and then honed his craft in California. Since cofounding the Dane, he's led a team of brewers recognized nationally for their beers, ranging from our famous German Pilsner and Oktoberfest to an ever-changing rotation of specialty brews," it posted. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
