Nix & Kix: The Drink with a Zing

When investing, your capital is in danger.

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Smooth drinks model Nix & Kix was born when co-founders Kerstin and Julia couldn’t discover any thrilling non-alcoholic choices. So, they developed a set of progressive recipes, made with 100% pure elements, glowing water and a pinch of zing – in contrast to something accessible in the marketplace.

Quick ahead a number of years, and Nix & Kix has offered 5 million merchandise and secured over 7,500 distribution factors together with Tesco, Waitrose, Nando’s and BP. 

We sat down with the staff to learn the way the drinks model supercharged it’s development to date, and what’s in retailer for the long run.

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What makes Nix & Kix completely different within the tender drinks market?

Our drinks stand out as a result of we provide an thrilling style profile with out the necessity for any added sugar, synthetic sweeteners or different dangerous elements. We’re very happy with the product we’ve created and have received quite a few Nice Style awards to show it.

What made you resolve to lastly begin this enterprise? 

We couldn’t discover any tasty non-alcoholic drink choices once we went out at evening. Equally, within the afternoon we have been struggling to discover a pick-me-up beverage that wasn’t stuffed with sugar.

What does competitors appear like within the tender drinks area?

There’s a whole lot of competitors within the tender drinks area and most (round 90%) of companies on this sector fail within the first yr. Nonetheless, there are nice alternatives inside the class for manufacturers like us as client calls for have been altering and there are hardly any tender drinks to fulfill these wants. It’s been 4 years since we launched our drinks – and for nearly all this time we’ve got been stocked by among the largest retailers within the UK, who’re normally very choosy about what to placed on the shelf within the first place and what to maintain there over an extended time frame. We all know from shopper knowledge that we carry new prospects into the class, we actually do fill a niche available in the market.

How have you ever constructed a provide chain that’s environment friendly and scalable to deal with future development? 

We’ve got made certain we work with companions that firstly have all the required accreditations, but in addition perceive our imaginative and prescient for the model and product and our ambition. Once we have been first beginning off, discovering an ingredient provider and producer was difficult, however fortunately our companions might see the potential early on and took us on although we’re most likely one in every of their smallest prospects. 

What have been among the greatest milestones for the corporate to this point? 

All main grocery store or restaurant chain launches have been wonderful moments for the model and the staff. We additionally undertook a packaging re-brand final yr for which we’ve got had nice suggestions from the commerce and finish customers. And breaking into different markets – quickly the US by a Coca-Cola backed distribution community but in addition different international locations in Europe the place we’ve got been rising the model over quite a few years with minimal funding.

And one other two milestones are on the horizon: we’re launching in WHSmith and Co-op supermarkets in Might and summer season this yr respectively.

What does gender variety appear like within the F&B area and do you anticipate to see enhancements sooner or later? 

Feminine founders within the drinks area are nonetheless within the minority however we will see a pattern of extra ladies venturing into the world of drinks. I hope it will proceed – once we began off there weren’t many feminine founders within the drinks world to look to as function fashions.

What are Nix & Kix’s plans with the proceeds from this spherical? 

The funds allow us to rent a full-time useful resource devoted to rising our model within the comfort channel, and to reinforce our advertising actions throughout the enterprise together with for comfort, e-commerce and all our different channels.

What’s your greatest piece of recommendation to aspiring feminine entrepreneurs? 

Encompass your self with people who imagine in you and help you. Beginning a enterprise generally is a lonely journey. And don’t be shy to shout about your successes – the extra you do that the extra seen this will probably be for different females occupied with entrepreneurship. And encourage different ladies to start out one thing themselves!

What’s one factor you assume we will all do to enhance gender variety in entrepreneurship?

Fund female-founded companies; assist them grow to be profitable function fashions for different ladies and assist them help different female-founded companies.

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To search out out extra about Nix & Kix, go to the pitch now.