A Nelson-based cider business, which plans to sell a premium cider made in a remote part of the Himalayas to Indian restaurants across the UK, is seeking to raise £65,000 via crowdfunding.
Investors who pledge their support are being given a free case of the cider, which the company's co-founder has told Insider is lighter, drier and less fizzy than its rivals.
Himachal has submitted a pitch to Crowdcube in which it asks for £65,000 in return for a 15 per cent equity stake in the business. Investors who pledge £250 or more will be given a free case of 12 bottles of Himachal Cider, while those who commit £1,000 or more will also be offered an invitation to a product launch event in Lancashire.
The funds will be used to buy raw materials and make cider, as well as pay shipping costs and import and excise duties as each shipment arrives in the UK.
Himachal co-founder David White said: "We hope to have Himachal cider in lots of Indian restaurants across the region within the next couple of months and eventually right across the UK. Our big point of difference is authenticity.
"It's a genuine Indian cider made in India using Indian apples and Indian water. It's not mass produced in a giant anonymous factory, it's virtually hand-made on a small scale in a remote part of the Himalayas.
"The product is certainly familiar as a cider and has been designed and created by us especially for the UK but it's a bit different as well, it's lighter (low in carbs), a bit drier and not quite as fizzy as a lot of the products already on the market here. We think it will be a great accompaniment to Indian food.
"We haven't crossed the finishing line yet and would love to have some local investors supporting us. We liked the idea of crowdfunding and potentially acquiring lots of new small shareholders across the country who hopefully will become brand ambassadors for our product as we develop the brand across the country."
Himachal proposes to market the product to the UK's network of more than 9,500 Indian restaurants. The company's initial cider stocks have already been sold and committed to its launch restaurant customer in Lancashire, which has committed to 144 bottles per week.
However, Himachal's business plan estimates that current total sales of cider in Indian restaurants equate to approximately 28,000 bottles per day, and the company expects to capture a significant percentage of the market based on its product story, marketing and authenticity.
Initially, the company plans to bring in approximately 40,000 bottles per months, which is equivalent to 5 per cent of cider sold in Indian restaurants, although this proportion is forecast to rise to 17 per cent by the end of its third full trading year.
Established in January 2015, the company is led by White and Clive Fernandes. The launch product is made in India under licence from Himachal, which retains exclusive global rights to its production.
Himachal also holds the marketing rights for Europe and North America for other products that are being developed by its partners in India.
The company told investors that it expects dividends amounting to more than double the value of the initial investments will be paid out by year three. And it said that the business would explore a potential sale as soon as this can be demonstrated to offer great value to shareholders.
Himachal, which said that to the best of its knowledge it offers the only authentic Indian cider on the market, also intends to add flavoured ciders as the brand develops.