Aldi’s Next Big Thing on Channel 4: Meet Camden ginger beer entrepreneurs The Root Co

The Camden-based artisanal ginger beer company The Root Co is the latest London brand to feature on Channel 4 in a bid to see their Ginger Beer X Ginger Shot hybrid stocked on Aldi’s shelves.

The Root Co founders, Will Englander and Lucy Hilton, who are based in the north of the city will appear on Aldi’s Next Big Thing, airing on Tuesday (May 7), for a contract to supply the supermarket chain.

The artisanal ginger beer startup was initially created by Will after he found a gap in the market for a Ginger Beer X Ginger Shot hybrid drink.

In 2020 during lockdown, Will began experimenting with batches of the fusion beverage whilst he was working as a management consultant.

The following year in 2021 he left his job to focus more on the drink making process and launched his first Ginger Beer cans that May. 

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The drinks contain just five ingredients based on Will’s original kitchen recipe including fresh ginger & lime juice, mixed with water, maple syrup & fresh mint.

Speaking ahead of The Root Co’s feature on the upcoming Aldi’s Next Big Thing show, Will said: “The ginger beers I was having when I was swerving pints at the pub didn't have that nice fiery ginger kick. 

“What makes our ginger beer different is that we work with a very simple recipe, using fresh ginger. It's really good for your immunity and digestion. To have our product stocked in Aldi, knowing my friends and family in far flung areas of the country could buy them, would be phenomenal."

The entrepreneurs will present their products to Julie Ashfield, Aldi UK’s managing director of buying, and the show's hosts, broadcaster and author Anita Rani and Chris Bavin, of the BBC’s The One Show and Eat Well for Less.

The winning contestant's product will appear as a Specialbuy in more than 1,000 stores.

Aldi described the competition as part of its ongoing commitment to support British suppliers.

Last year, Aldi said it spent an additional £1.3 billion with British suppliers and growers, and that they provide more than three quarters of all items sold in its stores. 

Aldi’s Next Big Thing airs on Channel 4 every Tuesday at 8pm until May 7.