Startups 100: Shoply Named on Annual Index of Disruptive UK Startups

  • The longest running annual index of its kind, the Startups 100 ranks the country’s top 100 fast-growth new UK businesses launched in the last five years

  • Shoply is listed at number 67

  • Collective turnover of £650m last financial year

  • Startups on the list also raised a total of £650 million in investment

The UK’s longest running index of disruptive new startups, the Startups 100, has released its 2020 lineup, and Shoply has been listed at number 67.

Run by Startups.co.uk, the Startups 100 offers a showcase of new businesses which demonstrate innovation, solid financials, economic impact, and the ability to scale.  Edinburgh-based Shoply was one of two Scottish start-ups recognised in the index.

An online marketplace that connects independent retailers to consumers in a digital space, Shoply provides a service-oriented retail product for today’s convenience-minded consumer. The platform launched in 2016, initially as Drinkly: a drinks-on-demand delivery service, promising chilled beers, wines, spirits and more store-to-door in 1 hour. In the space of three years, Drinkly had expanded into three cities and delivered 17,000 orders.  A natural progression for Drinkly was to extend its proposition into a genuine convenience offering and Drinkly rebranded to Shoply in May 2020 to reflect this change in focus. The move to convenience home delivery has taken on increased significance during the Covid-19 pandemic; sales have risen by over 500% and Shoply is now available in 40 locations throughout the UK.

John Robertson, founder and CEO of Shoply, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has really shone a spotlight on the value of home delivery, not solely as a convenience model, but as an essential service for all segments of our society, including the vulnerable and elderly.

“Convenience store operators have stepped up to the plate in bridging a gap where supermarkets have failed in the delivery of goods to people in significantly reduced timeframes and what our marketplace does is connect these stores to their community in a safe and secure online shopping space.  We’re really honoured to be listed in the Startups 100.”

Bryn Glover, Editor of Startups.co.uk: "The Startups 100 is such a special event for us each year - it's a real celebration of UK entrepreneurship.  We've had a record number of entries this year, so making the list is an exceptional feat.

"In the recent Covid-19 pandemic it's often startups that have come to the rescue; their agility, flexibility and ingenuity has proven to be a super-strength.  Shoply is a perfect example of this and I expect them to go from strength to strength."‪ 

How it’s ranked:

●      Finance raised

●      Turnover for the previous financial year

●      Profit for the previous year

●      Projected turnover for the next financial year

About the Startups 100

Entering the Startups 100 is completely free. Established in 2008, the Startups 100 index identifies privately-owned UK companies launched in the last 5 years which demonstrate innovation, solid financials, economic impact and the ability to scale.

As the ONLY and longest running index of its kind, the prestigious Startups 100 is industry renowned for uncovering businesses that will go on to become major brands, and even household names. It boasts alumni companies including Revolut, eve Sleep, HelloFresh, Purplebricks, LendInvest, Deliveroo, Bulb, and many more acclaimed businesses.

The full list can be found here.