Heineken has acquired a minority stake in premium tonic and mixer brand Double Dutch.
Double Dutch Drinks was founded in 2015 by Dutch twin sisters Raissa and Joyce de Haas and now sells over a million bottles a month in 26 countries, with stocklists across both the on-trade and off-trade.
The new investment from Heineken, of just under 10%, provides new capital for Double Dutch to invest further in the brand.
Michel de Carvalho, husband of Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken, has also joined the Supervisory Board of Double Dutch Drinks.
The Heineken family has stakes in multiple on-trade groups and Michel will use his global network to support Double Dutch’s growth plans worldwide.
Michel said: “This is our first family venture into tonics and Double Dutch is an exciting brand with two driven, ambitious young Dutch women entrepreneurs behind it.
“No longer a start-up brand, it has captured an 8% market share in the UK, which is a testament to the founders’ hard work and tenacity.
“I am optimistic, despite the challenges that the current pandemic presents, that Double Dutch will continue to grow exponentially as it has done over the last three years.
“I see the growth in premium tonics continuing, with the demand for luxury soft drinks, healthier low sugar alternatives and unique mixers for exclusive variants of gin and vodka increasing, and Double Dutch fulfils all of those.”
Raissa de Haas, co-founder of Double Dutch, added: “We are delighted to have the Heineken family on board and it’s an honour that they recognise the potential of our business.
“As well as being hugely exciting commercially, the relationship is a perfect cultural fit – both businesses are Dutch, family-owned and female-driven – we couldn’t be happier.”
