At some coffee shops in Scotland, you can buy a flat white coffee (espresso with steamed milk) for a few dollars. Add a splash of Mossgiel milk and, Ka-Ching! That’ll cost you $344.
The pricey brew is part of a promotion to investors. You’d be getting not just a cup of joe but a part in the Mossgiel Dairy. The offer goes like this: Buy 34 shares in the farm and get a free flat white at coffee shops that use the dairy’s milk.
“This coffee costs nearly 80 times the price of an average flat white in the UK—but it’s much more than just a lovely drink,” says farm owner Bryce Cunningham.
Cunningham inherited the family business in 2014. It struggled due to plummeting milk prices, so he regrouped. He sold most of the herd and rebranded as an “organic” operation. He doesn’t treat the cows with antibiotics or growth hormones.
Now he wants to take his dairy products to London. To accomplish that, he needs funds. Cunningham hopes to attract investors to raise money for growth. Those investors will each own a small part of the business.
If Cunningham’s plans work and profits grow, investors will receive dividends from those profits. But investment involves risk. The cows could get sick, or the business might not turn a profit. It is possible to lose everything one puts in.
What should an investor look for in a company? Some positive factors are a good business plan, a good product, and an operation that has stood the test of time.
Cunningham has shared his plan for growth. Already, at least 13 coffee shops attest to the milk’s quality. “Theirs is the best. I’ll argue with anyone about that,” says one coffee shop owner. And as for longevity, Mossgiel was originally part of an 18th-century tenant farm. In all that time, milk hasn’t gone out of style.
A Now-Famous Laborer
A famous poet once labored on this farmland for two years in the 1700s. Today, Robert Burns isn’t remembered for being a farmhand. He’s the national poet of Scotland.
During his farm years, Burns wrote about 15 poems. Farm life was a recurring theme. His most famous work is “Auld Lang Syne.” It means “for old times’ sake.” It’s often sung to welcome in the New Year. Mossgiel’s glass milk bottles feature an imprint of the poet’s face.
Maybe you’ll have an opportunity to invest in a business like Mossgiel Dairy. Or maybe you’ll invest time into developing a skill like writing or memorizing poetry. April is National Poetry Month. Tell us your favorite poem and why you appreciate it. Email us at WORLDteeneditor@gwnews.com.
Why? Money and talents should be stewarded responsibly. Wise investments bring rewards, but all financial investing carries risk too.
