Penticton manufacturer featured in Dragons’ Den soda battle episode tonight

PENTICTON – Penticton's Jason Cox takes the stage in the battle of specialty soda manufacturers featured on the popular Dragons' Den TV show tonight.

Jason Cox of Penticton’s soda company, The People’s Crafthouse, is up against Bastien Poulin of Montreal for an investment from the hit CBC business show on an episode airing this evening, March 22.

Poulin will be looking for $200,000 for a 20 per cent share in his company, 1640 Cola, while Cox will be seeking a $60,000 investment for 30 per cent of People’s Crafthouse Soda.

Cox’s company is currently valued at $200,000.

Cox was in Toronto to film the segment on May 13, 2016. He pitched his product’s success to the dragons as part of a revolution taking place in soda and soft drinks that has resulted in a 326 per cent growth in his business in the first two years of operation.

"It was quite the experience. It was over 10 months ago so it's hard to believe how fast time has gone, and how much has happened to the business," he says today, March 22, adding he had to sign "a whole bunch of forms" promising he wouldn't reveal the outcome of the Dragons' Den segment.

Cox recently sold off the U-brew portion of his business to focus on producing soda, relocating from Fairview Road to at a new location at 215 Winnipeg St.

During the show, Cox hands out six packs of his product to the dragon panel, he explains, “People want real, natural products where they can read and understand every ingredient on the label.”

His competitor features a cola made with maple syrup, developed after Poulin realized one day while eating poutine there were no Canadian soft drinks on the menu.

Viewers can also vote for the soda rival of their choice. 

The segment airs on the Dragons’ Den tonight, March 22, on CBC at 8 p.m.


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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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