Drink firm brewing up healthy success
POINT BLANK STRIKE DEAL WITH AMERICAN FOOTBALL TEAM
AN energy drink business based in the North East has notched up an impressive new client after winning a contract with the San Francisco 49ers American football team.
Point Blank Cold Brew was set up by Canadian entrepreneur Josh Thompson, who moved to the North East 17 years ago to bring the Subway sandwich brand to the region.
Mr Thompson has worked with Newcastle law firm Square One Law to negotiate funding from a number of high net worth individuals that has allowed him to accelerate the growth of the business and target new sales in the UK and North America.
Point Blank is marketed as a natural alternative to traditional energy drinks for the health conscious.
It is a cold brew coffee with no sugar, no fat, no additives or preservatives, and only one calorie. Each 250ml bottle contains around 160mg of caffeine, the equivalent caffeine content of two cans of Red Bull or two double espressos.
Mr Thompson said: “Our goal is to pioneer and lead the global market with our cold brew coffee as a healthy and natural alternative to traditional energy drinks. In addition to capital we have also added strategic partners to our already strong team with extensive and high-level experience in retail, branding, marketing, sports management and corporate finance.
“We have developed a sophisticated distribution network, including a national listing with one of the UK’s largest food wholesale suppliers, BidFood UK, which is capable of servicing our ambitious plans to widen our customer base and achieve ambitious sales targets within the next 12 months”.
The company has secured a distribution deal in Canada, and recently began supplying the San Francisco 49ers American football team, who drink Point Blank before and during games as well as during training.
Mr Thompson will be meeting with the investment group behind the team to discuss partnership opportunities and growing the Point Blank brand in the US market later this month.
He said: “In order to maximise these opportunities Point Blank will be looking to recruit up to five additional team members in key areas such as sales support and operations to help us execute our plans.”
Mr Thompson, who lives in Ponteland, spotted the trend for cold coffee in the US, and initially created his brand in his home.
Ashraf Ali, senior associate in Square One Law’s corporate team, said: “Josh’s ambitions for the Point Blank brand have been clear from the outset of the business and his approach has been very entrepreneurial.
“He has identified a gap in the global drinks market and developed an innovative product and brand to capitalise on it. He is putting in place structured and well researched plans which will maximise the impact of the investment.”