Grocer Gold Awards 2022: exporter of the year

Winner: Dash Water

Founded five years ago by Jack Scott and Alex Wright, Dash has already seized a 35% share of the ‘seltzer’ category in the UK. It’s now exporting its sparkling water infused with wonky fruit & veg to over 20 countries.

In 2021, the brand turned its attention to Australia, where it identified a huge opportunity among the country’s health and wellness-obsessed consumers.

Working with local distributors, Dash rapidly developed a foothold in coffee shops, quick-service restaurants, and independent grocers across the country. Supported by an organic influencer campaign, it gained 800 independent Australian stockists by September 2021.

The growth didn’t stop there. Dash’s burgeoning success soon caught the eye of Australia’s largest supermarket chain Woolworths, which listed four of its multipacks in 700 stores in July 2021.

Having been given a deadline of just three months to deliver the stock, Dash mobilised half of its team to establish local production in Melbourne, using Mount Black spring water and wonky fruit extract imported from the UK.

The team managed all this amid Australia’s ban on international travel, which meant they had to manage the process entirely remotely with a nine-hour time difference. Their dedication paid off. By the end of 2021, Dash – which now sources wonky fruit extract from farmers in Australia – had sold one million cans down under.

Shortlisted:

• Fever-Tree
• Smylies
• Symington’s