Nexba founders to launch wine-based fruit punch remixt at First Choice Liquor

A company restructure for sugar-free soft drinks company Nexba has borne its first fruit - or fruit punch to be precise - with Goodness Group Global announcing its first launch into the alcoholic beverage market after reaching a ranging deal with Coles Liquor.

In mid-2023 the team at Sydney-based Nexba took a major step towards goals of applying the company's sugar-free intellectual property (IP) to new verticals, setting up affiliated parent company Goodness Group Global as a vehicle for this diversification.

In July a Series B capital raise in partnership with VentureCrowd attracted an investment from Australian cricket star Pat Cummins as an ambassador for both Nexba and Goodness Group Global. Today it has been confirmed the first tranche of the Series B is now complete, securing $4 million.

The capital infusion is welcome news as the company seeks to bring new innovation to the alcoholic drinks space, rolling out its wine-based fruit punch remixt to 97 First Choice Liquor stores across the country.

The drink is preservative-free and has an alcohol by volume level of 8.5 per cent, while its packaging is made with 69 per cent plant-based renewable materials and uses 80 per cent less fossil fuels than a typical glass wine bottle to manufacture.

"We have always been at the forefront of the beverage industry, pioneering novel creations that cater to the evolving tastes and values of consumers," says Goodness Group Global founder Drew Bilbe, who set up Nexba with fellow co-founder Troy Douglas in 2010 and first got the product on the shelves of 7-Eleven in 2012.

"Our commitment to innovation and quality has led to the launch of our first all-natural wine-based product," says the Top 100 Young Entrepreneurs lister.

"We have been at the forefront of reflecting rapidly changing consumer preferences in the industry and we’ve responded to the latest need with our new ready-to-enjoy remixt range."

Coles Liquor general manager of customer loyalty, Mia Lloyd, believes customers will love the great flavours that remixt has to offer and 'will jump at the opportunity to try this new and innovative wine-based punch'.

"We’re thrilled to launch remixt into the Australian market as temperatures increase and the festive season gets underway," she says.

Goodness Group Global head of sales Michael Williams says Coles Liquor has been fantastic to collaborate with and 'has a genuine ambition to innovate within the category'.

"Coles Liquor has been fantastic to collaborate with and it has a genuine ambition to innovate within the category. We are delighted to partner with them as a 'first to market' in First Choice where we know the team will get behind it and offer customers something different and delicious," he says.

Remixt will come in two flavours initially - Tropical and Cranberry & Apple. Bilbe adds the group has also teamed up with some of Australia’s best DJs to curate playlists that sync seamlessly with each flavour variant.

"Our curated music tracks are available through a free QR code on the pack, giving you the ultimate sounds of summer with your family, friends, and community," he says.

Aside from new verticals, Nexba also has ambitious international expansion plans with a particular focus on entering European markets - an initiative the team hopes will be funded by a larger effort to raise up to $20 million.