Non-Alcoholic Ginger Drink Secures Funding from AB InBev Family
Non-Alcoholic Ginger Drink Secures Funding from AB InBev Family
Belgian non-alcoholic drink brand Gimber raises €10 million to expand across Europe and Asia
Gimber, the Belgian start-up known for its alcohol-free ginger-based aperitif, has raised €10 million to fuel its international expansion. The funding round includes continued support from existing shareholders, such as Austrian fund Square One Foods and DLF Venture (the investment arm of the AB InBev-affiliated de Mevius family). The Flemish government fund PMV has also joined the round via the public-private Welvaartsfonds.
Gimber aims to strengthen its market position in Western Europe and scale further into Asia. “We want to build a strong presence across Western Europe,” says founder Dimitri Oosterlynck. “Asia is also a key focus. We already export to Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea. That started somewhat by coincidence, when we spontaneously said yes to a request from a South Korean customer.”
Two weeks ago, Gimber participated in a royal trade mission to Japan, led by Princess Astrid, as part of its push to grow its international footprint.
From obsession to brand
Gimber was founded in 2017 by Dimitri Oosterlynck and his wife Sylvie Schollier. What started as an improvised ginger purchase during a holiday in France has now grown into a fast-expanding beverage brand. Instead of cooking with the ginger, Oosterlynck decided to juice it and drink it—sparking an obsession to create a refined, alcohol-free aperitif.
He developed the recipe further with herbs and spices, and outsourced production to scale. Today, Gimber is available in Belgium, the Netherlands, and France, and is sold in major retailers including Colruyt, Delhaize, and Carrefour. The company expects to generate €20 million in revenue this year—though it remains loss-making.
The drink’s best-selling product is its concentrated ginger elixir, which is not positioned as an alcohol-free alternative to an existing spirit but as a completely new experience. “That’s both our strength and our challenge,” says Oosterlynck. “People don’t immediately know how to use or position it—so we have to educate every market. That takes time and money.”
New leadership, same passion
To professionalize operations, Gimber has reshaped its executive team. Interim CEO Tim Kamanayo has now been confirmed as the company’s permanent CEO. Oosterlynck is stepping back from day-to-day leadership and will focus exclusively on marketing.
“I want to make the right decisions for the future of this company,” he says. “Gimber needs a strong architect at the helm—and I’m not that person. The worst thing that can happen to a company is a founder who clings to the wheel out of ego. My strength lies in branding. I love giving soul to products.”
Oosterlynck and Schollier remain majority shareholders.
Momentum for alcohol-free
Gimber’s growth comes at a time when alcohol-free drinks are booming. Global beverage companies, including AB InBev, have expanded their zero-alcohol offerings. Non-alcoholic alternatives to spirits, such as Nona gin, are also gaining traction. “There’s still a lot of social pressure to drink alcohol in Belgium,” says Oosterlynck. “But people are increasingly aware of their health, and that’s creating room for new kinds of drinks like ours.”
About Gimber
- Alcohol-free aperitif made with ginger and spices
- Founded in 2017 by Dimitri Oosterlynck and Sylvie Schollier
- Revenue: €20 million (2024 forecast)
- Still loss-making, but expects profitability within 12 months
- Investors: Founders hold majority stake, alongside Square One Foods, DLF Venture (de Mevius family), PMV (via Welvaartsfonds), and five managers
Source: De Tijd, Jens Cardinaels, 22/12/2022, This is an automatically generated translation of the original article, Link to original article.