Ajax rum punch brand CJ's Punch pitches on CBC's Dragons' Den

Ajax beverage brand CJ's Punch appeared on CBC's Dragons' Den, where founders Colin James and his wife Allicia Miller asked for $225,000 for a 10 per cent stake in the company and did not secure a deal, the Ajax News Advertiser reported.

The Dragons liked the drink, and two of them said they would like to speak to the founders in a year. James said the appearance was worthwhile even without the investment, calling it 'free advertisement' that 'puts our product in front of so many people.'

CJ's Punch is a canned Caribbean-style rum punch, co-founded in May 2024, with pineapple as its first flavour. James, whose family heritage is Kittitian and Jamaican, shared his take on his parents' punch recipe for 30 years with family, neighbours and co-workers at General Motors, where he worked for four decades, including as president of Unifor Local 222.

After testing the drink at festivals and events through 2025, the LCBO began stocking the pineapple flavour in August 2025. By the time the episode was filmed in the summer of 2026, nearly 70,000 units had been sold, with stock sold out in 80 of 175 stores.

The couple plans to introduce another flavour to LCBO shelves and launch products for grocery and convenience stores. 'We're very proud to have a Caribbean-inspired drink hit the stores and have huge success. It's nice to be able to represent Ajax and the Caribbean,' James said.