Tasty distribution deal for Scottish coconut water brand

Scottish coconut water brand Go Coco has signed a distribution deal with Highland Spring Group (HSG) and is now looking to expand by targeting major supermarkets in the UK.

The deal will see HSG distribute coconut water and the varieties of coconut milkshakes produced by the brand with immediate effect.

Go Coco is produced by Freedom Brands, a Glasgow-headquartered company founded in 2011 by Ross Currie and Tracey Hogarth, who were shortlisted for Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2015 Scottish Food & Drink Excellence Awards.

While the brand is already listed in Waitrose, Hogarth believes the deal with HSG offers Go Coco a platform to push into the UK retail sector.

She said: “We’ve enjoyed considerable success exporting the product– in fact 40% of our sales are outwith the UK and we’re in talks to move to markets in Asia. Within the UK we’ve mainly sold through independents and wholesalers until now, but the coconut water market is one of the fastest growing in the country. We’re confident that with access to HSG’s significant networks we will boost our expansion into supermarkets.”

“Furthermore, the deal unites two Scottish companies which share similar beliefs in providing healthy hydration to consumers. In the short time since the deal was signed, we’ve been encouraged by the productive discussions HSG has had with retailers.”

Lyn Calder, corporate finance director at accountants Johnston Carmichael, added: “We are delighted to have assisted Go CoCo in establishing this new partnership. Go Coco is a fast-growing Scottish business within an incredibly competitive food and drink industry. This commercial tie up is the next step in Go Coco’s evolution to becoming a household name in the UK market.”