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Aussie beverage company lands UK distribution deal

Nexba 2Australia’s leading naturally sugar-free beverage company Nexba is bringing its sparkling water range to the UK after landing a major deal with supermarket giant Sainsbury’s.

The initial launch will see the introduction of Nexba’s no sugar and nothing artificial sparkling water range in over 500 large format supermarkets, with the full range, including naturally sugar-free soft drinks, tonic waters and kombucha to hit shelves within the coming year.

Founded in 2010 by Drew Bilbe and Troy Douglas, the Australian-owned company has seen a 156 per cent year-on-year increase in revenue in the 2017-18 financial year, catching the attention of Sainsbury’s Future Brands initiative.

Limiting sugar has become the UK’s No.1 healthy eating concern, compounded by the introduction of the soft drinks levy in April this year. Health campaigners even took on Coca-Cola recently, forcing the soft drinks giant to cut back its promotional Christmas tour.

Douglas said the brand resonates with the sugar-conscious market in the UK.

“We are proud to be taking our Naturally Sugar Free product innovation beyond Australia,” Douglas said. “The UK soft drink levy has already seen a rise in artificial substitutes as brands seek quick fixes to maintain ‘sweetness’. We believe all brands and food and beverage categories that are high sugar should seek to have Naturally Sugar Free alternatives that don’t compromise on taste and do not use artificial ingredients.”

Sainsbury’s head of future brands Rachel Eyre said Nexba was a natural fit for the Future Brands team, which works with innovative, small suppliers to make distinct products available to their consumers at scale.

“Nexba is a distinctive brand with an innovative, great-tasting product for our consumers who are concerned about their sugar intake. Nexba provides another step towards making Sainsbury’s a home for truly unique brands,” said Eyre.

Nexba’s Naturally Sweetener blend provides a healthier alternative to full sugar and artificial soft drinks. Its innovative approach and dedication to tackling diabetes and obesity garnered the attention of Aussie investors, with equity crowdfunding platform VentureCrowd backing its global expansion.

“The Nexba Aussie Boys are wonderkids who are genuinely obsessed with helping consumers make healthier choices,”  VentureCrowd co-founder Steve Maarbani said. “By raising capital online through VentureCrowd, they are not only increasing the speed and efficiency of their capital raise, but they gain valuable exposure to new customers and commercial opportunities helping them to aim for success in local and global markets.”

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