YouTube stars Will Lenney (WillNE) and James Marriott have turned their sights to food and drink retail through the launch of Rodd’s Iced Coffee in Sainsbury’s stores across the United Kingdom (UK).
The brand is available in cold brew oat latte, matcha latte with vanilla, and waffle oat latte, with each flavour made from 100 per cent Arabica beans sourced through the National Federation of Colombian Coffee Growers.
Rodd’s says its sourcing model through the Federation was chosen for its integrity and direct impact as 100 per cent of profits go back to the coffee farmers.
The beverages contain no added sugar, preservatives, or artificial colours or flavours, and are plant based.
Marriott, who recently returned to the UK following a global music tour, says the desire to build an iced coffee brand came from the pair’s constant consumption of the product.
“Will and I drink iced coffee constantly, but we were bored of brands that look great but don’t deliver on taste,” he says.
“We wanted to make something that tastes the way you expect it to, taking flavours like Waffle that we’re seeing Stateside, with straightforward, quality ingredients you don’t have to Google.”
Collectively, Marriott and Lenney have close to 10 million subscribers on YouTube and almost 1.5 million Instagram followers.
Their popularity has skyrocketed Rodd’s early launch, with the business now boasting an Instagram following of more than 167,000 followers, making it one of the country’s most followed coffee brands.
Lenney says both he and Marriott have been heavily involved in the creation and launch of Rodd’s.
“This isn’t a vanity project,” Lenny says. “James and I have worked on every part of this, the sourcing, the flavours, the brand.
“Unlike others, this isn’t rammed with sugar, and it actually stays chilled every step of the way – from the moment we make it to the moment you buy it. We’re seriously proud of what we’ve built together. Quite simply, Rodd’s is the iced coffee we always wished existed, so we cracked on and we launched it.”
The UK’s RTD coffee market continues to increase in popularity, and rising demand for plant-based, low-sugar options means the market is expected to exceed £350 million (US$464 million) by 2026.
