Puma VCT 13, Puma Alpha VCT and Puma Alpha EIS (“the Funds”) have invested £4.7 million as part of a wider £11 million funding round into MOTH, one of the UK's fastest-growing ready-to-drink (RTD) brands, now selling a MOTH every four seconds¹. The round was supported by Beringea, Guinness Ventures and Rianta Capital. 

Launched in 2021 by co-founders Sam Hunt and Rob Wallis, MOTH’s range of 12 premium canned cocktails – including its No.1 SKU, the MOTH Margarita – is made with award-winning spirits and presented in fully recyclable cans.

Already the No.2 RTD brand in UK grocery², MOTH will use the funding to deepen its UK retail presence - with a particular focus on the fast-growing convenience channel. MOTH will also continue to accelerate their US expansion, where it is outpacing the cocktail RTD category across California, Florida and Illinois through retailers including Whole Foods Market, Target, Trader Joe's, Binny's and Fresh Market³.

Puma’s investment comes following a year of standout performance for MOTH with turnover of £20.9m, up 67% year on year and 146% over two years — three times the growth rate of the category ⁴

The momentum reflects a category in rapid expansion. Canned cocktails now account for 27% of the UK's £787m RTD market and grew 64% in the past year⁵. The same pattern is playing out in the US, where cocktail RTDs are growing seven times faster than the wider $14.7bn RTD category⁶

MOTH is stocked across more than 40,000 distribution points in the UK across core retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Asda, Morrisons, Co-Op and Whole Foods Market. It can also be found on British Airways European short-haul flights, in Pret across UK airports, Honest Burger, Franca Manca and YO! Sushi. The brand is a certified B Corp.

MOTH joins a select group of high-growth food and drink brands within Puma’s wider portfolio, including LOVE CORN and Lucky Saint.

Sam Hunt, co-founder of MOTH: 

“When we started MOTH, the idea that a cocktail from a can could genuinely be delicious and rival one from a bar felt like a provocation. Now we’re selling one every four seconds and the momentum we’re seeing across grocery and convenience is the strongest it’s ever been. This raise is about taking that conviction deeper across the UK and America and we’re grateful to have attracted investors who understand our ambition and what we’re building at MOTH.”

Ben Leslie, Investment Director at Puma Growth Partners:

“MOTH is one of the most exciting brands in RTD and we are delighted to have led the company’s latest investment. The team has built impressive momentum across both grocery and convenience in the UK, with clear evidence of repeat purchase and market share gains and now setting sights on replicating that success in the US. We’re excited to be backing a business that understands how to win in a rapidly evolving category and has a clear plan for scaling in the UK and internationally.”

Sources: 

¹ NielsenIQ Retail data, total coverage, 52 week ending 13/06/26

² NielsenIQ RMS Data, Grocery Multiples, 52WE 13.06.26, RTD Brands Value Sales

³ NielsenIQ Data, Total US FMCG Retailers + Liquor Open State + Convenience, Latest 52 Weeks - W/E 06-20-2026

⁴ NielsenIQ Retail data, total coverage, 52 week ending 13/06/26

⁵ Source NIQ Scan Off Premise Channels, Total RTDs. Latest 52 weeks ending 01/03/2026 vs. year ago

⁶ Total US FMCG Retailers + Liquor Open State + Convenience, Latest 52 Weeks - W/E 06-27-2026, Total RTDs (Cocktails RTD + Wine-Based Cocktails + Hard Seltzers and FMBs)