Glasgow-based cocktail brand Panther M*lk, which had the Dragons’ Den panel purring last year, has secured a retail listing that will see it stocked at 40 Asda stores across Scotland.
The 15% ABV vegan-friendly oat milk drink is the brainchild of former Sub Club owner Paul Crawford, who stumbled across ‘Leche De Pantera’ – a potent cocktail with a condensed milk base – while visiting Barcelona to attend an electronic music festival.
Paul unveiled his own version in Glasgow in 2015 with the pop-up Panther M*lk Bar, which was originally planned to open for only three months. However, the drink proved so popular with the city’s punters that the Panther M*lk brand officially launched in 2020.
An appearance on Dragons’ Den followed in March 2022 and Paul agreed to sell a 25% stake in the company for £50,000 to vegan Dragon, Deborah Meaden. The deal fell through after the show, but the pair are still in touch and Meaden has been advising Paul on the best way to move the brand forward.
Hailing Panther M*lk’s first retail listing as a “huge step” for the business, Paul said: “Being able to extend our sales onto supermarket shelves is a testament to the commitment of our small team of three staff, who are devoted to our brand.”
Ashley Connolly, local buying manager for Asda in Scotland, added: “We are thrilled to work with such an innovative and forward-thinking local brand and we’re really excited to welcome Panther M*lk to Asda.”
