Non-alcoholic So Soda scores a “big” promotion deal for Dry July

After opening its doors only earlier this year, a Sunshine Coast non-alcoholic drink business has landed a supermarket deal coinciding with Dry July.

A Buderim couple is toasting the reward for their effort as their non-alcoholic drink company lands a deal to sell in 15 metro stores nationwide for Dry July.

So Soda is selling two of its drinks, Splash Dance and High Frequency, in the stores this month after landing a promotion deal with Coles Local.

“It’s a big thing,” co-owner Daniel Hastings said.

Launched in March, So Soda is a non-alcoholic brand in Buderim selling soft seltzers in three flavours through its online store and nationwide via Metcash, Australian Liquor Marketers and, currently, Coles Local.

The brand is owned by a married couple, Mr Hastings and Amelia Carew.

So Soda's non-alcoholic drinks. Picture: So Soda.

Since starting, Mrs Carew said sales had risen by 100 per cent each month and they were already “seeing a further spike with Dry July.”

Mr Hastings said this promotion deal was a “good opportunity” to crack into Coles Supermarket, which has more than 800 stores nationwide.

He said he and the giant retailer were already in discussions about a possible deal.

“If you’re in Coles Local, you’re halfway there,” he said.

Mrs Carew said her drinks offered fun, tasty and natural flavours in a non-alcoholic market with limited choice and existing drinks that were often “bland and laced with sweeteners”.

“So Soda is a brand for people breaking out of booze … not for the sobriety set, just for normal people looking to moderate,” she said.

So Soda's non-alcoholic drinks. Picture: So Soda.

Mrs Carew said their business was cracking into a stable market, saying low-to-no alcoholic drinks weren’t a “fad” but a way to lead a healthy lifestyle, mostly driven by the young generation.

“The drinking habit is changing. It’s undeniable,” she said.

Looking ahead, the couple said they were on the brink of signing a distribution deal White’s IGA to sell in five stores on the Sunshine Coast.

Mrs Carew said exporting, new ranges and recipes were also being developed as next steps for the business.

“Our vision is to be known in every household as the beverage company who walks its own line, never rests,” she said.

Originally published as Non-alcoholic So Soda scores a “big” promotion deal for Dry July