NZ Cellar ‘humbled’ by funding response

A New Zealand online wine specialist hoping to open its own retail space has become the drinks industry’s latest crowdfunding success story, breaking through its £35,000 target within five days.

Melanie Brown, founder of The New Zealand Cellar, makes her pitch on Kickstarter.

Last week saw The New Zealand Cellar launch its campaign via Kickstarter, offering a range of incentives for potential investors to support its ambition to open a shop in Brixton, south London.

“We are delighted to report that we achieved 103% of the target within five days of launching the campaign,” reported Melanie Brown, who founded the company last year.

Pointing to “the very generous backing of customers here in the UK as well as supporters and wineries in New Zealand,” she commented: “The team at The New Zealand Cellar have been humbled by the positive press, support and social media coverage received.”

Despite passing its target, the company is still encouraging additional investment for the remaining six days of its campaign. Promising to keep backers updated on how the extra funds will be spent, Brown remarked: “Every pledge over our target enables us to do bigger and better things for New Zealand wine here in the UK.

The New Zealand Wine Cellar’s crowdfunding success follows in the wake of recent target smashing campaigns by the likes of English wine, beer and cider business Chapel Down, Scottish brewer BrewDog and New Zealand producer Invivo Wines.