BBC Dragons’ Den star Deborah Meaden in tense showdown with co-star after being branded ‘greedy’
Dragons’ Den stars Deborah Meaden and Steven Bartlett were involved in a tense showdown during tonight’s episode when it came down to fighting for one guest’s coffee brand.
Will Little walked into the Den to promote his instant coffee brand – Little’s Coffee – and immediately caught the eye of four of the dragons.
Explaining his company, Little said: “I am the managing director of Little’s Coffee. I am here today to ask for an £80,000 investment in exchange for a two per cent stake in my business.
“Little’s is a challenger brand and a big mission to get people to drink better coffee. Highstreet coffee shops are exploding with a huge selection of flavoured trends and innovation, but I am here to show you you can have a flavoured coffee shop experience at home, for a fraction of the cost.
“You don’t have to spend £5 in a coffee shop, and you don’t have to settle for less, especially when it comes to instance.”
Little went on to explain that his parents began the company 35 years prior when travelling in California and already have distribution in Tesco’s, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Ocado and independent shops.
Touker Suleyman was the first to offer his expertise and immediately noted that he was out of the deal due to not being able to get his money back within five years.
Meaden was highly interested and explained: “I really like it. I think the coffee world gets lumps and bumps of innovation but it is actually quite slow, I think, to be brought to the generations coming through I think.
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“It just sits there and expects to sell so I think it is quite exciting when you get something that looks different and tastes different and I love Little.
“You have absolutely got something to hook the conversation on which is what I think is great. I am going to make you an offer, all of the money and I want four per cent of the business.”
Sara Davies also offered all of the money but at five per cent, leaving Bartlett to go next: “I think I am the perfect Dragon for this business and I can’t say it in any other way.
“So I am going to make you an offer, all of the money for seven point five per cent,” leaving Suleyman to suck through his teeth in shock and note: “Greedy.”
Overhearing his comment, Bartlett quipped: “Got to know what you’re worth at the end of the day, it’s part of the den isn’t it,” before Meaden piped up: ”You have got to know what the business is worth”
“You have got to know what you’re worth,” Bartlett hit back before Meaden confidently added: “Oh I know what I am worth.”
Little noted that Bartlett’s offer was a lot more than he was comfortable to agree to before Peter Jones swopped in and offered the same as Meaden – with the pair teaming up on the deal.
Before taking some time to think, Bartlett attempted to express why Meaden and Jones had teamed up and slammed: “I let you guys speak, please let me finish,” as Meaden tried to intervene.
Little came back from thinking about the offers and said: “Steven I hear what you are saying, seven and a half is too much, is there anything you can do to bring that down? Five?”
It was an easy decision for Bartlett who agreed to the five per cent share in the business, leaving the pair to shake hands and walk away with a successful deal.