Chill Brands Group, a distributor of vape products and other FMCG lines to the UK's independent convenience sector, has reported a sharp increase in first-half revenue as its Chill Connect distribution business continued to expand its retailer network.
The listed company posted revenue of £726,382 for the six months to 31 March 2026, up from £141,699 in the corresponding period a year earlier. The average monthly revenue run rate increased to around £121,000, almost four times the level recorded during the previous 18-month reporting period.
Chill Connect, which provides distribution and field sales services to brands targeting the convenience channel, said it now serves a network spanning thousands of independent convenience stores across the UK.
During the period, the company strengthened partnerships with a number of established and emerging brands and broadened its product range beyond vaping and nicotine products to include confectionery, beverages, personal care and batteries as part of a strategy to reduce reliance on a single, regulation-sensitive category.
Following the period end, Chill Brands also launched a wholesale ordering platform, onboarding more than 2,000 convenience retailer accounts at launch, enabling retailers to place orders directly while extending the company's reach without a proportional increase in field sales costs.
Chief executive Callum Sommerton said: "We delivered Chill Connect's strongest period of revenue growth to date in the first half, reflecting clear and increasing demand from both retailers and brand partners for our distribution proposition."
He added that the company had invested ahead of revenue by building a national operating platform, including a UK-wide field sales team and enhanced promotional capabilities, positioning the business for future growth despite costs rising faster than revenue.
The company said Chill Connect generates income from recurring service fees paid by brand partners for field sales representation and market support, alongside product distribution to independent retailers.
Despite the increase in sales, Chill Brands reported a pre-tax loss of £1.07m, compared with a loss of £726,434 a year earlier. The company also recorded a gross loss of £283,807, reflecting investment in its national distribution infrastructure and the sale of inventory from one vaping brand at or below cost after market conditions deteriorated.
To support operations, the company drew an additional £540,000 from an existing working capital loan facility provided by its largest shareholder.
Sommerton said the company is focusing on converting its operational platform into scalable, capital-efficient growth.
“We expect trading in the second half to continue broadly in line with current trends, however, this remains dependent on securing sufficient working capital to support the business,” he added.