Sans Drinks: Pioneering northern beaches booze-free bottle shop business saved from going under

A groundbreaking Sydney business that sells non-alcoholic wine and spirits has been thrown a lifeline, just a month after it went into administration.

Sans Drinks founder Irene Falcone will remain involved with the business in a marketing and strategy role after it was bought by online retailer Just Wines a month after Sans Drinks went into administration and was in danger of going under. Picture: David Swift

A pioneering northern beaches’ company – that opened Australia’s first bricks and mortar non-alcohol bottle shop – has been saved from financial collapse.

Entrepreneur Irene Falcone put her Sans Drinks business, which sells non-alcoholic wines, spirits and pre-mixed cocktails, into voluntary administration last month.

Ms Falcone blamed a reduction in “foot traffic … in this economic climate” for her decision to close the bottle shops.

She did not renew a lease to her store at Warringah Mall in June and had already shut her first outlet on Lawrence St, Freshwater, which opened in a blaze of publicity in May 2021, several months ago.

Sans Drinks founder Irene Falcone will stay on in the business in a marketing and strategy role. Picture: Supplied

Now Sans Drinks, which had continued operating online only after going in into external administration on July 17, has been thrown a lifeline by a large rival online alcohol retailer.

Just Wines acquired it after creditors resolved to accept a Deed of Company Arrangement proposal, which involved secured creditors and employees being paid in full. Unsecured will get 48c in the dollar.

Its founder Nitesh Bhatia said Sans Drinks was “an excellent addition to the Just Wines platform”.

“There are great synergies between the two brands and we’re looking forward to working with Irene to take Sans Drinks to the next level,” he said.

Sans Drinks founder Irene Falcone pictured at Australia's first non-alcoholic bottle shop at Freshwater. She said a drop in foot traffic and the “economic times” led to her decision to close the shop in Lawrence St. Picture: David Swift

“This is a great fit. Irene has vast experience in marketing and promotion, and Just Wines has a strong track record in administration, operations, and managing the supply chain.

“And as the non-alcoholic sector is a real growth area, this will enable Sans Drinks, which is already the number one retailer in this segment, to grow at a much faster pace.”

Ms Falcone will stay on in the business, working in marketing and strategy.

The rescue was announced by voluntary administrator Andrew Spring, a partner with insolvency firm Jirsch Sutherland,

“The decision to enter into voluntary administration was a difficult one and I’m incredibly grateful to the team at Jirsch Sutherland, who really guided me every step of the way,” Ms Falcone said.

“I’m thrilled that Sans Drinks is now part of the Just Wines family and I’m looking forward to the next chapter for Sans Drinks.

Irene Falcone (right), setting up her first non-alcoholic bottle shop at Freshwater in 2021. On the left is Brook Mahoney of the Better Brand Co who helped with the shop fit-out. Picture: Julie Cross

Ms Falcone first launched Sans Drinks as an online business in June 2020 — during the Covid lockdown — after what she described as “being frustrated with the low quality, sugar loaded non-alcoholic alternatives that were available in supermarkets and bottle shops”.

It has a large warehouse on Old Pittwater Rd at Brookvale.

Ms Falcone also founded beauty products company Nourished Life in 2012. She sold it in 2017 for $20 million.