THE DUCHESS

The Duchess launched the world’s first alcohol-free gin & tonic in 2016. They’re dedicated to innovating and developing new alcohol-free drinks that aim to disrupt the traditional alcohol and soft drink industries. Their brand and taste profile encourage adult drinkers to choose an alcohol-free drink option. In 2018, they won the Best New Adult Drink and Best Drink Concept Awards at the Innobev Awards in Prague.

In 2019, the world’s biggest brewer, AB InBev, invested in the business. Since then, they have expanded across South Africa, Australia, Netherlands and Belgium. They continue to offer an elegant alternative to alcohol as, globally, conscious consumers are consuming less alcohol. The next focus is on expansion in Europe and America as well as launching their new range.

Tell us a bit more about your business and what it offers?
The Duchess launched the world’s first alcohol-free gin & tonic in 2016. Since then we have expanded to over 2500 outlets in South Africa, 1200 outlets in Australia, 800 outlets in The Netherlands and 500 outlets in Belgium. The Duchess continues to innovate and develop new alcohol-free drinks that aim to disrupt the traditional alcohol & soft drink industries.

What important role does your company play in Cape Town, and abroad?
The Duchess offers an elegant alternative to alcohol. The brand & taste profile encourages adult drinkers to choose an alcohol-free drink option. Globally conscious consumers are drinking less alcohol.

When considering Cape Town, what factors made you choose to start here?
Why Cape Town and what prompted the decision? We are born and bred, Cape Townians, and love living + working in the city. Cape Town has a social culture & tourism that drives beverage sales. The Cape Town brand name is also recognized globally, more so than South Africa even, in our experience.

What do you enjoy most about operating your business in Cape Town? What are the benefits of running a business/investing in Cape Town? You find an incredible talent in Cape Town.
As the founder of a growing business, we are always looking for new people. The city is small and easy to navigate. The beautiful nature & beach promote a good work/life balance. When we launched in The Netherlands we ran a campaign: Win a Trip to Cape Town, as the summer lifestyle of the city & our product has many similarities.

What are the highlights/success stories you can share since starting your business in Cape Town?
In 2018 we won the Best New Adult Drink & Best Drink Concept Awards at the Innobev Awards in Prague. In 2019 the world’s biggest brewer, AB InBev, invested in our business to help expand globally.

What challenges, if any, have you experienced in setting up your business?
It is not always easy to find suppliers as passionate as yourself. Some make mistakes or cause delays that lead to your business running out of stock or overstock. Cashflow is always a challenge when you grow and have big ambitions.

Have you had any interactions, positive or negative, with the City of Cape Town is setting up or running your business?
We have worked with Wesgro on a few conferences but overall I feel the city could do more to support entrepreneurs.

How has doing business in Cape Town, or with the City of Cape Town, be different from anywhere else?
I like the hustle & bustle of doing business in Cape Town. There is a sense of urgency and drive to improve. Doing business in Europe can be a long and complex process.

What’s next? What is the future of your business?
The next year is focussed on expansion in Europe and launching our new range. America is definitely on the horizon but will take a lot of time and money.

If your best friend was on the fence about opening a business/investing in Cape Town, what would you tell them?
Cape Town is probably one of the easiest places to open a business in the world. The benchmark is low, the market is not as saturated in Europe and you get to live in the most beautiful city in the world.