Damm UK takes stake in London soft drink brand

Damm UK has taken a stake in London-founded Dalston’s Soda Co as the first soft drinks partner in its accelerator programme at its new Damm Eagle Brewery in Bedford.

The partnership will see Damm support Dalston’s Soda Co across production, distribution and commercial infrastructure to further the B Corp soft drinks maker’s growth across on-trade and off-trade channels.

The accelerator programme is designed to support fledgling beverage brands demonstrating growth potential with manufacturing, innovation and distribution, drawing on Damm’s beverage and commercial expertise, with more than 25 years’ experience making and distributing soft drinks in Spain. 

Damm UK managing director Luke White said: “We are excited to welcome Dalston’s as our first soft drinks partner which is well aligned with Damm’s premium offering that centres around craftsmanship, excellent ingredients and outstanding quality.  We look forward to seeing Dalston’s flourish as we work together to help support its growth in the UK and beyond.”

Duncan O’Brien, founder of Dalston’s Soda Co, added: “It’s a little mind-blowing to see Dalston’s make it from its bootstrapped origins to partnering with Damm. They’re a superb ally for Dalston’s – we share a focus on producing great-tasting drinks, and a real respect for gastronomy, sustainability and the arts. It’s a huge vote of confidence in what we’ve built, and we’re thrilled at the growth potential that working with the Damm team brings.”

The move follows Damm’s acquisition of the Old Speckled Hen brands from Greene King earlier this month.

Last October, the company opened its first brewery outside the Iberian Peninsula – the Damm Eagle Brewery in Bedford, England, after acquiring the historic site from Carlsberg Marstons Brewing Company in 2022.

The brewer ploughed £70m into modernising the facility, including new syrup handling and mixing technology alongside a state-of-the-art canning line and increased capacity, with the potential to expand to 2 million hectolitres per year.

Damm will now undertake a new renovation phase to make additional adjustments and improvements to the site.