At the age of 24, Alli Bailey has started a soft drink revolution with her Alive  Synbiotic range of zero sugar, low calorie beverages. Thanks to a patented mix  of pre and probiotics, this young Aussie entrepreneur is taking the local fizzy  drink market to dizzyingly healthy heights… one can at a time.

How did you start your home grown business?

Since I was a little girl, I’ve always dreamed of having my own product and my own business. My dad has worked in the fast-moving consumer goods space for a long time and has always told me the most successful products are innovative and exciting. My first real lightbulb moment, though, happened when I was in my local supermarket a few years back and I realised how many kombucha products were on the shelf compared to a few months earlier. Clearly people had a thirst  for something different! That’s when I started the journey to  create something entirely new again in the beverage market and the idea for our functional soft drink Alive Synbiotic was  born.

What inspires you?

I’ve always been very inspired by innovation. I admire when people don’t pigeonhole themselves, and instead, mix themselves up in di erent industries and genres. I really look up to people who do things authentically and that’s what I strive to do every day.

What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received?

My dad has always told me to just have a crack. He says “all you can do is have a crack, it’s the best way to learn.” I think about this every day, especially when I make mistakes and have to come up with a solution. When you have a crack sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t, but there will always be a lesson you can learn and take into the next chapter.

What are the benefits of manufacturing locally?

Being able to actually go and see, taste, and smell our Alive range, is vitally important to me. As a relative newcomer to the game, I really value the relationships I have with our manufacturers and I’ve learned so much from them. I’m in awe of the hard yards they go to!

What makes the Australian consumer unique?

The Australian consumer is very aware and very savvy. From a food and beverage point of view, Aussies care about what goes into their bodies – they really take note of the ingredients  and where they come from. Particularly in the social media  age, I think more and more Australians love engaging with local brands, their stories and supporting the people behind them.