On Thursday, 12th June, the vibrant Bath business community gathered at The Apex Hotel for the grand finale of the first-ever Bath Dragons competition. The event brought together four standout entrepreneurs – Jim Hughes (Untamed), Ross Austen (Hanora Health), Michael Kerstein (Easyphones), and our very own Ben Franks, Co-Founder of Canned Wine Group – to pitch their ventures to a panel of esteemed business leaders.
The Dragons, comprising Debbie Boulton (Richardson Swift), Tom Webb (Mogers Drewett), Dan Webb (South West Business Finance), and Anita Jaynes (The Business Exchange), put the finalists through their paces with probing questions on strategy and financial planning.
After a dynamic and competitive evening, Canned Wine Group emerged victorious, securing a business support package valued at over £20,000. This prize includes expert services from Richardson Swift, Mogers Drewett, South West Business Finance, and The Business Exchange.
Ben’s pitch focused on The Copper Crew KeyKegs, our latest NPD which delivers a solution for the hospitality sector. This approach not only reduces packaging waste and emissions but also tackles the industry-wide issue of wine wastage, with each keg equivalent to 26 bottles and a shelf life of six weeks.
Ben shared his vision during the pitch: “Our goal is to make wine on tap the go-to single-serve house wine across the UK. We want to ensure that wherever you go, you can enjoy a quality glass of wine—without the waste.”
Reflecting on the win, he added: “It’s an honour to be recognised among such inspiring local businesses. We’re proud to be based in Bath and are committed to growing our business right here in the South West.”
Anita Jaynes, Founder of The Business Exchange, praised the event’s success:
“The standard of entries was exceptional, and Canned Wine Group is a worthy winner. We’re excited to support their journey as they continue to innovate in the wine industry.”
We’re honoured to be the recipients of this inaugural prize, and can’t wait to put the prize to good use!
