London-based grocery delivery startup, The Modern Milkman, raises €5.6M to reduce plastic waste with its milkrounds; here’s how

London-based The Modern Milkman, a milk delivery company that delivers groceries, hit the headline when it sheltered a reticent Boris Johnson in a refrigerator during the 2019 general election campaign, has raised £5M (approx €5.6M) in a fresh round of funding.

The investor

The new financing comes from ETF Partners (The Environmental Technologies Fund). The investment aligns with ETF Partners’ mission to fuel digital innovation in sustainable European startups.

Use of the funds

The raised capital will help the startup to expand beyond Northern England, fulfilling its target to help consumers shift away from single-use plastic and lead a sustainable lifestyle, without compromising on convenience.

To date, The Modern Milkman claims to have reduced more than nine tons of single-use plastic.

Speaking on the development, Simon Mellin, founder and CEO of The Modern Milkman, says, “ETF was the obvious choice of investor for us and we’re thrilled to have their support as we move into the next phase of our journey. We believe their insight, skill and experience in the sustainability space will help us deliver the positive impact we strive to have on the environment at pace, as we move forward with our expansion plans across the UK over the course of 2021.”

About The Modern Milkman

Founded in 2018 by Simon Mellin, The Modern Milkman started as a local milkround inspired by David Attenborough’s Blue Planet and the need to reduce plastic waste. Its mission is to revolutionise consumer habits by delivering fresh ways to return and reuse packaging, “shop ethically, and feel good about convenience.” 

The Manchester-based business delivers convenient groceries from independent and local suppliers directly to customers’ doorsteps in returnable and reusable packaging.

The startup claims that its operational excellence, digitally advanced delivery platform, and customer-centric approach has increased its revenues tenfold in 2020.

Response to the plastics crisis

The plastic crisis in oceans was highlighted by David Attenborough’s Blue Planet. The harrowing scenes from this documentary created a movement and inspired Simon Mellin to set up The Modern Milkman. 

“People were crying out for an alternative to plastic, and we delivered. All our milk and juices come in returnable glass bottles and our grocery packaging is 100% recyclable. So, it’s never been easier to reduce your plastic footprint,” says Simon Mellin.

Tomer Strikovsky from ETF Partners says, “In today’s world, many of us are looking to reduce our environmental impact on the planet, but convenience remains key to daily life. The team at The Modern Milkman has responded to the ever-changing nature of consumer requirements, and thus experienced significant growth over the past year.”