MEET THE MAKER
LOVE OUR COMMUNITY
SAMUEL LENTINI - EASTCOAST BEVERAGES
Samuel J Lentini – Managing Director
Can you share some of the history around Eastcoast Beverages?
Eastcoast Beverages was born in 1965 when my grandfather, Salvatore Lentini, began picking and packing fresh fruit from his Central Coast orchards to supply to Australia’s famous Flemington Markets. Years later, when tariffs on imported juice concentrate were removed, producing juice solely from fresh fruit became less profitable.
That’s when Salvatore’s three sons—my father, Sam, and my uncles Mick and Frank—along with their wives, spotted an opportunity. They decided to squeeze 100% fresh citrus juice, made entirely from Australian fruit, and bring it to market.
Today, we’re still a family operation, living and working on our farm in Kulnura, NSW—the very same land where my grandfather first picked oranges all those years ago.
What’s unique about what you do as a business?
We have a full commitment to quality and sustainability. Operating as a third-generation family business, Eastcoast has nine family members actively involved, allowing them to stay true to their Australian roots and values. This close-knit team oversees every step of production on-site: growing, picking, juicing, and bottling their products, making Eastcoast vertically integrated and deeply connected to the process from orchard to bottle.
Eastcoast’s dedication to sustainability is woven into every aspect of their operations, from eco-conscious packaging to resource conservation and waste reduction practices.
What inspires you to create and maintain your own business?
Our grandfather dedication to quality and his vision for Australian-grown produce paved the way for what we are today. Carrying forward his legacy motivates us to remain proudly family-owned and rooted in Australia, even as other companies are bought out by international corporations.
Being family-owned also gives us the freedom to operate with our values at the forefront, maintaining strong community ties and sustainable practices, and ensuring that our products reflect the heart of Australia.
Why is Australian-made important to you?
By producing locally, we’re supporting our community and helping to create jobs that sustain Australia’s economy and future. Reducing our carbon footprint is also a priority, and sourcing, processing, and distributing within Australia minimises transportation emissions, making our operations more sustainable.
Australia’s high quality standards mean we can guarantee the safety and excellence of our products, which is essential from a supply chain perspective. For us, Australian-made represents quality, community, and responsibility.
How have you incorporated sustainable practices to help the Australian environment into your business?
Through a partnership with Calyx.eco, select Eastcoast products have been certified with the “climate-friendly” label, indicating they produce 70% lower greenhouse gas emissions from “cradle-to-gate” (farm to store shelf) than similar items. Products with a “good sustainability rating” are assessed on eight key factors, such as emissions, water usage, biodiversity, and soil health, highlighting their eco-conscious production. Eastcoast’s “clean label” products contain only minimally processed, low-energy ingredients.
Eastcoast’s “Return, Regrow, and Renew” philosophy underpins every aspect of production:
- Return: Eastcoast’s 100% recyclable bottles and citrus by-products are reused, with peels going to farms as cattle feed and pulp enriching yogurts and desserts.
- Regrow: The companypractices sustainable farming by recycling treated water to irrigate orchards and using only natural fertilisers and pest control.
- Renew: On track to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035, Eastcoast is integrating electric vehicles, forklifts, and machinery, and aims to be fully solar-powered by 2030.
What challenges you every day as a business?
Being based in a regional area can present challenges when it comes to finding candidates with specialised skills. While our team consistently steps up to meet demands, locating people with the right expertise for certain roles can sometimes be a lengthy process.
Additionally, working with fresh produce brings its own set ofchallenges. The quality and availability of fruit fluctuate yearly, impacted by factors like weather and market trends.
What are the major business priorities for Eastcoast Beverages over the next 12 months?
A major focus is completing upgrades in our production facility, including automating the back end of our production line, which will increase efficiency and product consistency.
As we celebrate our 60th anniversary, we’re thrilled to mark this milestone with a commemorative book that shares our journey and values.
Sustainability continues to be a priority, and we’re excited to launch new products aligned with this goal, including a refreshing Lemonade and Mint Juice, and a new spring water option in recyclable cans. We’re also investing in new planning efforts and acquiring more land to grow fruit. These initiatives reflect our vision for a stronger, more sustainable future at Eastcoast Beverages.
