Lupe

How did you go about setting up the operation then?

I signed a contract where I will pay a royalty on each unit. Negotiations took awhile to finalise.

We plugged the bespoke machine in and ran it through the family business. We used wines from wineries we’d dealt with for a long time. They were very excited that they are involved in something new like this. I wanted quality wines – I wouldn’t sell bad, cheap wine.

I am talking to big wine companies to open it up so that we can repackage their brands as single serve.

Have you had a lot of family help?

Yes, my dad looks after the quality control side of the wine and my brother has come on board to help with sales and marketing.

My uncle in New Zealand helps with the financial side. My family is incredibly supportive.

How is distribution going?

We are working with independent owners initially and we’ll speak to the big supermarkets next year. We are launching at the Melbourne Music Festival and then in areas predominately near beaches and parks in Victoria.

It has already launched in Japan and Singapore. It suits the Japanese buying culture and it’s stocked in high-end supermarkets there.

I spend a lot of my time on Skype speaking to my business partners in Singapore and Japan.

What are the biggest challenges you are facing?

It’s introducing a new product that is very different to what people are used to. The good thing is that I don’t have to worry about the product and machinery and the reaction has been good so far among people.

Of course, some people won’t even look at it, but generally the feedback has been good. We’ll be pricing it at $4.50 each or $16.99 for a four-pack.

Generation Y are open to new things and I think they’ll take to it.