Goodrays Secures €5.7 Million Series A to Expand Premium CBD Functional Drinks Across UK and Europe
Goodrays, a UK-based CBD functional drinks brand, has closed a €5.7 million (approximately £5 million) Series A funding round to deepen its growth in the wellness-beverage sector. The round combines both equity and debt financing, and was led by Guinness Ventures with participation from newer and existing institutional investors, along with celebrity backers including Vernon Kay, Tess Daly, Ed Leigh and Ben Skinner.
The fresh capital arrives amid strong performance metrics for Goodrays. Over the past three years, the company has doubled both revenue and profitability each year. Goodrays has secured listings with four of the UK’s major retailers, including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Morrison’s and Waitrose, making its CBD drinks, gummies and oils broadly accessible to consumers through national retail channels. The company has also launched internationally, rolling out products into France at large chains like Intermarché, Carrefour, Système U, and Leclerc.
In addition to its commercial gains, Goodrays has been navigating an evolving regulatory environment in the UK CBD market. Full market authorisation for CBD products is expected to come into effect in early 2026, a key milestone that could reshape standards, labeling, and acceptable daily intake limits. Goodrays is preparing for this shift and has already begun compliance efforts. Its CBD drinks are noted for higher levels of CBD content (30mg) per serving, which are above newly advised acceptable daily intake (ADI) thresholds; the company is working on reformulating within the new guidance while preserving flavor and quality.
As part of the bolstered leadership structure following the Series A round, Goodrays has appointed Ben Dando, formerly International Managing Director at beverage brand Liquid Death, as its new Managing Director. His hiring is intended to support the company’s next phase of scaling its product, marketing, and retail presence.
Goodrays’ use of the new funding encompasses several strategic priorities. Product innovation is high on the agenda, with plans to expand its premium product line. The company will invest heavily in marketing and brand awareness, leveraging both digital and in-store platforms to reach wellness-oriented consumers. Further retail partnerships are also key: Goodrays intends to secure additional listings and deepen relationships with current retail partners to gain shelf space and reach.
The business has emphasized its wellness positioning, particularly mental wellbeing, framing its product offerings not simply as CBD beverages, but as functional drinks that help “busy minds find calm and clarity.” Goodrays highlights attributes such as low calories, no added sugar or artificial sweeteners, and flavor profiles that offer more than traditional beverages provide.
Found in London and founded around 2020, Goodrays is supported by a lean team operating across the UK and Europe, producing CBD drinks, oils, and gummies. The company uses high-quality ingredients, with CBD sourced from hemp farms in the EU, and focuses on product quality, safety, and regulatory compliance as central pillars of its strategy. Retail distribution is both direct-to-consumer (online) and via national and international supermarkets.
Looking ahead, Goodrays faces a competitive market where regulatory clarity is still in progress and consumer expectations regarding quality, wellbeing, and transparency are accelerating. The firm believes the UK CBD market, which has already shown rapid growth, is approaching a tipping point. With full regulatory authorisation expected in 2026, the company aims to take advantage of clearer legal frameworks, increasing consumer demand, and deeper retail penetration.
With celebrity backing, strong financial metrics, retail relationships, and new leadership, Goodrays is well positioned to capitalize on trends in functional beverages and wellness. The Series A funding gives Goodrays the resources to accelerate its mission to become a leading premium functional drinks brand in the UK and Europe, offering CBD-infused products that go beyond traditional drinks to address mental wellness, clean labeling, and healthier alternatives.
