A MID Devon coffee company has secured an £80,000 investment on BBC TV programme Dragons’ Den.

Will Little of Little’s Coffee, which makes instant, ground and flavoured coffee and Nespresso-compatible coffee capsules, received offers from four of the Dragons.

Deborah Meaden and Peter Jones offered Mr Little the £80,000 he had asked for in return for four per cent of the business in partnership with each other.

Sara Davies also offered him all the money but for five per cent of Little’s Coffee, and Steven Bartlett the same for 7.5 per cent of the company.

Mr Little ultimately took up Mr Bartlett’s offer after haggling down to five per cent.

Little’s Coffee Managing Director Will Little said: “We’re a self-funded family business, so my natural reaction was to say no to Dragons’ Den when I was approached by the BBC.

“But I thought about it, and I realised that Dragons’ Den has become a really credible TV show for challenger brands and having the backing, and mentorship, of a Dragon seemed like an opportunity I’d be silly to pass up.

“It’s hard to explain how intense, surreal, and nerve-wracking the whole experience is.

“Nothing can prepare you for the moment you step into the Den and face the Dragons.

“It’s not every day you get to meet the people you grew up watching on television. Overall, the experience was actually amazing. Scary, but amazing.

“I hadn’t considered what I’d do if I got offers. Let alone four.

“So it’s kind of blown my mind that I had four dragons interested in investing in my business.

“I really believe we got the best partner in Steven Bartlett.

“He made it pretty compelling for me and it felt like a no-brainer to accept his offer.”

Entrepreneur and investor Steven Bartlett said: “I never thought I’d be this excited about instant coffee, but Little’s is probably the best brand I’ve seen in the Den.

“I knew immediately that this was a journey I needed to be a part of.

“Will and the team have built an astonishing – and already hugely successful – business.

“He has extensive knowledge of the coffee industry and an infectious passion for the brand that makes Little’s a really unique proposition.

“Little’s are well on their way to becoming a cult brand with their game-changing, innovative range of flavoured coffees.

“Their products are exactly what millions of younger coffee drinkers are looking for – flavour, convenience, and affordability.

“It was never a question of whether I wanted to invest, but more making Will see I was the right investor for them.

“I think we’re going to have loads of fun growing this brand together.”

Little’s Coffee is based in Willand. It is described as “liberating the coffee market for younger, flavour-driven audiences”.

The Dragons’ Den episode featuring Little’s Coffee was the fifth of the 22nd series of the programme, broadcast on Thursday, February 6.

You can watch it online on BBC iPlayer by visiting: bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0027nx0/dragons-den-series-22-episode-5.