Cornish craft distillery Pocketful of Stones, best known for its innovative spirits and standout Dr Squid gin, has officially entered the Italian market, marking a pivotal moment in the brand’s international expansion strategy.
Partnering with Asolo Bevande, this move follows sustained success in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Hungary – markets where the brand has continued to perform strongly despite ongoing global and regional economic pressures.
The Italian launch of Dr Squid gin was supported by insights from the Department for Business and Trade, identifying increased consumer appetite for premium gin and whisky across the country. This expansion follows closely on the heels of Pocketful of Stones’ recent availability in the Falkland Islands.
“Breaking into the Italian market is a huge milestone for us,” said Mike Cunliffe, Co-Founder of Pocketful of Stones. “Italy’s growing appreciation for high-quality, distinctive spirits makes it a natural next step for our brand, and Dr Squid’s quirky character is already generating excitement among local buyers.”
“Looking at our sales figures, not only has Dr Squid had a 500% surge in demand over the past three years, but our export sales are up 100% from June last year. We’re not ready to stop yet!” Mike added.
Despite facing post-Brexit trade hurdles and internal production bottlenecks, including scaling up their unique bespoke flasks, the distillery has bolstered its output capacity thanks to support from Cornwall Council. The grants allowed Pocketful of Stones to complete upgrades to its stills, affectionately named Jackson and Virginia. With strong momentum across the EU and a strategic focus on sustainable international growth, Pocketful of Stones is poised to make Italy one of its leading European markets.
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