Spencer Matthews, Founder of CleanCo.

Spencer Matthews is a British entrepreneur and founder of the premium no-and-low (No/Low) adult beverage company, CleanCo. With a desire to moderate his alcohol intake in 2018, Matthews discovered there were no options in the market that could match the taste and mouthfeel of full-strength spirits in a mixed drink. For many years, there had been two main options - full-strength alcohol or soft drinks - and little in-between. He discovered that a great tasting like-for-like alternative simply didn’t exist. This was the catalyst that spurred him to found CleanCo and create a product that filled the gap in the market for a comparable and enjoyable experience to real spirits. CleanCo launched in the UK in late 2019 with gin alternative Clean G, followed by rum replacement Clean R in May 2020. Offering finely crafted alternatives to some of our favourite tipples, the CleanCo range offers award winning Clean G, Clean R and Clean G Rhubarb. Furthermore, vodka replacement; Clean V Spiced Apple Spirit was introduced in March 2021 - shortly followed by a non-alcoholic Tequila replacement; Clean T, in May 2021. The range also includes Individual cans of ready mixed Clean G & Tonic and Clean Cuba Libre at ABV 0.5%. Matthew’s aim from the beginning was to give cocktail lovers a choice. A choice that will empower consumers to find a balance in order to live life to its full potential. By drinking ‘clean’ during the week, or by interspersing your favourite full-strength cocktail with a Clean replacement when socializing, you can moderate your alcohol intake without feeling like you are missing out. Finding there was an insatiable thirst for moderation among cocktail drinkers, and with ambitions to become the biggest player in the No/Low sector globally, CleanCo initially secured £2.1 million before raising a further £7m from backers including Ursula Burns, former CEO of Xerox and board member of Uber, as well as Lightspeed Venture Partners. Providing consumers with an alternative to traditional cocktails, CleanCo has cultivated a loyal ‘sober-curious’ following since its inception in 2019. CleanCo made its debut in the US market in September 2021, entering with Clean T, a Tequila alternative. Spurred by the seismic surge in demand for quality alcohol-free alternatives and inspired by the accelerating Tequila category in the United States - Clean T offers an agave forward take on Tequila Blanco. Complementing Clean T, will be an array of No/Low spirit alternatives, Clean G (Gin), Clean R (Dark Rum), and Clean V Spiced Apple (Flavoured Vodka). Follow BITB on Twitter and Instagram.

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