Coast's first nang delivery service starts up

The region's first whipped cream charger and accessory service has been opened by two construction workers branching out into a new, niche market.

BRANCHING OUT: Matt and John, directors of Whip 'n' nang, have been busy with inquiries. Picture: Contributed

THE region's first whipped cream charger and accessory service has been opened by two construction workers branching out into a new, niche market.

Matt and John, directors of Whip'n'nang, who asked not to be identified further, opened up the online business at the start of November.

The local construction workers said they'd identified an opportunity and after doing their own research, realised there was a hole in the market they could fill.

They said local cafes were going through plenty of the cream chargers, or nangs as they're otherwise known, each week.

Nangs became more prominent recently after doctors sounded a warning last month about rising usage.

Nitrous oxide, which fills the small canisters known as nangs, has been used by people since the 1700s to get high.

There have been two recorded deaths from recreational nitrous oxide use in Australia since 2010.

Matt and John recognised there was "another market" for the products out there, but their advice was they had to terminate any sales if they suspected products were being bought for misuse.

"We're not selling the product with the intention to misuse," Matt said.

"If there is any risk of misuse there's a banned list on our website and we'll terminate the sale."

The pair had bought a juice business but had run out of cash and were looking for another business to operate to supplement their incomes.

They work in their spare time and on weekends and offer a delivery service to customers.

They sourced their chargers from an Australian-owned company which produces them in a factory in Victoria.

They also collect the used chargers and take them to a recycling plant.

The pair said they hoped to donate the refunds they collected from the used chargers to charity, likely a mental health foundation.

They said cream charger delivery services were operating around Australia, but they were the first to start up on the Sunshine Coast.

"We're doing well," Matt said.

"We've spoken to a couple of cafes about supplying them.

"They use about 15 boxes a week at their cafes and the guy we're speaking to owns five cafes."

The chargers sell for $10-$15 a box.

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said there was "nothing wrong" with selling them and it was legal to do so.

Under the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000 officers had the power to search for, seize and dispose of potentially harmful things.

The Summary Offences Act 2005 also created a number of offences in relation to the sale of potentially harmful things, including nitrous oxide, to minors and people who the seller reasonably believed might misuse the product by ingesting or inhaling it.