How soda maker doubled its business during COVID-19 crisis

BUSINESS is booming thanks to the interstate travel restrictions encouraging coastal Queenslanders to travel west.

Crows Next Soft Drinks owner (from left) Alex Davidson and Murray Rosenberg are happy that Crows Nest is enjoying a tourist boom.

WHILE the Australian economy buckles under the COVID pandemic, Crows Nest is in the midst of a renaissance.

Travel bans have pushed city dwellers to explore rural Queensland and proof of their spending power is found in the Crows Nest Soft Drinks' accounts ledger.

It had doubled its business in 12 months, co-owner Murray Rosenberg said.

"We noticed a jump in sales when the first travel restrictions were lifted, from 50km to 100km," he said.

"When the Premier said we could go anywhere in the state, well, they all came here."

Each weekend Crows Nest swells with tourists, and Mr Rosenberg said they were motivated to support country towns and owner-operated businesses like his.

"We are flat out working, and most of our customers are from out of town," he said.

"We have turned into a bit of a tourism business through our retail shop."

Sunshine Coast visitors (from left) Natalie Wright, Ann Wright, Dave Johnston and Dave Wright stop for refreshments on their way to Kingaroy.

Crows Nest Soft Drinks was hit with a second spike about two weeks ago after it was featured in ABC's Landline program in a segment about Australia's remaining soft drink companies.

Mr Rosenberg said the piece struck a chord with consumers, and his phone had been ringing hot ever since.

"I think people have reacted to a good news story amid the doom and gloom," he said.

Today's roaring trade stands in stark contrast to pre-COVID conditions or those at the height of the lockdown.

"The phone was silent and we were not getting any new product inquiries through our website," Mr Rosenberg said.

"We were looking at six months of below average sales, and we did not see the (big increase in sales) coming."

Despite the good times, Mr Rosenberg is aware they will be short lived.

Eventually the borders will reopen and the travellers will return to their familiar haunts.

"We don't expect this will last forever, but we are so appreciative of the support people are giving to small business," Mr Rosenberg said.

 

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