A Suffolk entrepreneur has taken a majority stake in a Welsh company that turns spent coffee grounds into award-winning spirits, in a deal that will see the firm's products brought to Suffolk markets.
Local investor moves into sustainable drinks sector
Kevin Withane, a non-practising barrister and co‑founder of Sudbury-based consultancy Impact Lawyers, has bought the majority shareholding in Grounds for Good for an undisclosed sum. The company distils botanical spirits — including gin, vodka and an apéritif called Aperoffi — from used coffee grounds collected across South Wales.
Grounds for Good, led by founder and chief executive Dr Rossana Oretti, has already earned national recognition for its products. Dr Oretti will remain as chief executive and retain an equity stake following the transaction.
"This partnership gives Grounds for Good the resources to properly scale, while keeping everything that's made the brand what it is. Genuinely upcycled coffee grounds, Welsh craftsmanship, and a social mission that matters,"
Mr Withane said he was attracted to the environmental and commercial potential of the business, describing the spirits range as an early "use case" for a broader upcycling model.
"When I first spoke to Rosie just over two weeks ago, it was clear what she'd actually built was a coffee grounds upcycling business, one sitting in a market with real long-term momentum behind it, and that the spirits range is simply the first use case for it,"
What the deal could mean locally
Impact Lawyers, based in Sudbury, provides commercial strategy, acquisitions and investment structuring advice to growing firms. Mr Withane said he plans to introduce Grounds for Good’s products to Suffolk and help grow the brand in the region, potentially widening retail and hospitality access to the upcycled spirits.
For Suffolk retailers, hospitality operators and consumers the deal may offer:
- Access to a locally promoted sustainable drink range
- Potential for new wholesale and hospitality partnerships in the county
- Opportunities for collaboration between Suffolk businesses and a Welsh producer with a social mission
Recognition and credentials
Grounds for Good has already won several industry honours, illustrating the quality of its products as well as the strength of its sustainability narrative.
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| Best in Show, Abergavenny Food Festival | 2025 |
| Gold Medal, Great British Food Awards | 2025 |
The company collects used coffee grounds from businesses across South Wales, converts them into spirit bases and markets the finished products under the Grounds for Good brand. Dr Oretti said the new partnership will give the business the resources to scale while maintaining its founding principles.
The transaction marks Mr Withane’s first foray into the drinks industry and represents a notable example of cross‑regional investment from a Suffolk entrepreneur into a sustainability-led food and drink venture.
