Spadel Group has invested an undisclosed sum in rapidly growing soft drinks brand Living Things.
The European spring water supplier has made the investment via its venture capital fund The Source Ventures, as part of Living Things’ latest fundraising round. Other new investors include former Coca-Cola UK marketing director Kris Robbens and Fulfil Nutrition founder Barry Connolly.
Funds will be used to uplift marketing investment and expand the size of the Living Things team, as the brand looks to scale in the UK and in other international markets.
Since being founded by Ben Vear and Jonathan Relph in October 2023, Living Things had “rapidly established itself as one of the most dynamic players in the fast-growing ‘gut-health soda’ segment”, Spadel Group said.
Its drinks are sold in 25,000 distribution points including UK retailers Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Boots, as well as across hospitality and foodservice. They are marketed as low in sugar and high in fibre, free from artificial sweeteners, and “enriched with prebiotics and probiotics”.
Living Things had medium-term ambitions to become a €100m brand in European soda, Spadel Group said.
“We’re delighted to support Living Things’ ambition to become a leading player in the fast-growing gut-health soda segment,” said Spadel global BDM and head of The Source Ventures Clément Yvorra. “The brand perfectly embodies the values we believe will shape the future of the beverage industry: naturality, functionality, sustainability and great taste.”
Living Things founder Jonathan Relph added: “Today’s consumers want soft drinks that taste great, offer real health benefits and that are environmentally conscious. With Living Things, we’ve created a new class of soda that does all three.”
Spadel describes itself as a “European and family-owned group” marketing natural mineral water, spring water and mineral water-based drinks. Its brands include Spa and Bru in the Benelux, Devin in Bulgaria, Wattwiller and Carola in France. It also sells “natural and less sweetened” energy drinks under the Zyla brand.
In 2024, it generated turnover of €379.3m, a rise of 9.7% on the year prior.
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