Genie wishes for huge expansion

GENIE, the producer of craft soft drinks, is looking to raise money from investors to fund its expansion plans, co-founder Bill Read says.

Read, a former Goldman Sachs banker, said demand for healthier soft drinks is growing.to capitalise on that, Genie will hold a fundraising drive next year so it can export to countries such as Singapore and Spain, as well as get on to the shelves of the big grocers.

“We want to expand our audience beyond hipsters.

Our ambition is to be this era’s leading drink, we want to the Innocent of the 2020s,” he said.

Genie’s sodas and kombuchas contain live probiotic cultures and are made from natural ingredients with no added sugar, preservatives or sweeteners.