THE HIVE AWARDS WINNER – Gamechanger Award: Kakadu Kitchen x OzHarvest
Thursday, 16 May 2024
OzHarvest Ventures is deeply honoured to receive the inaugural Hive Award in the Gamechanger category for our Conscious Drink collaboration with Kakadu Kitchen and ALTD Spirits.
Attending the Hive Award Ceremony hosted in Eveleigh by Food & Drink Business News, Louise Tran, Head of OzHarvest Ventures and Tim Triggs, Founder of ALTD Spirits accepted the award on behalf of the team and dedicated the award to friend, collaborator and business leader, Ben Tyler of Kakadu Kitchen based in the Northern Territory.
This GameChanger category was awarded to the company that embodies new ideas, innovations, and practices for the benefit of future food systems.
Louise Tran, Head of OzHarvest Ventures said, “We are a small team with one big vision: to collaborate to create a much-loved, high-quality product that can create ripples of positive impact for people and planet.
“To think that our bottle of Conscious Drink - a zero-alcohol, wine alternative, a spritzy delicious drink made from rescued blueberries blended with native bush botanicals ethically-sourced by First Nations communities and helps feed people in need - could stand as a symbol of hope, equality, sustainability and conscious actions - that's pretty cool.”
Kakadu Kitchen’s Founder Ben Tyler sharing The Hive Gamechanger Award with mum Jessie Alderson
Read more about the Conscious Drink collaboration:
A collaboration between OzHarvest Ventures, Kakadu Kitchen and ALTD Spirits, created a groundbreaking beverage designed to redefine the future of the food and beverage industry. ‘Conscious Drink’ is a lightly sparkling, zero-alcohol wine alternative that transcends traditional categories and champions sustainability and ethical practices.
Conscious Drink is made from rescued blueberries and wild-harvested native botanicals, sourced ethically from First Nations-owned companies.
Kakadu Kitchen and OzHarvest Ventures released the ‘Conscious Drink’ in December 2023 – a lightly sparkling, zero-alcohol wine alternative.
It was created not only as a tasty beverage but also to be a powerful message about reimagining sustainable food systems.
By crossing out the wine-alternative category on the label, the Conscious Drink aims to shift the conversation towards a new category of conscious beverages, promoting mindfulness and sustainability in consumer choices.
The Conscious Drink addresses the food waste head-on by utilising rescued blueberries that would otherwise go to waste. This initiative not only reduces food waste but also highlights the importance of sustainable supply chains. Additionally, each purchase of the Conscious Drink supports First Nations communities, empowering them through ethical sourcing and sharing of native ingredients.
The creation of the Conscious Drink is the result of a unique collaboration among industry leaders with a shared vision for a kinder, less wasteful world that empowers indigenous communities.
Bininj man Ben Tyler, founder of Kakadu Kitchen, brought his deep knowledge of bush foods from his Murumburr family and kin-relations in Kakadu National Park. Chief drinks alchemist, Tim Triggs, founder of ALTD Spirits and Ghiddy Wines, contributed his expertise in creating high-quality, perfectly balanced beverages. The OzHarvest Ventures team added its marketing expertise and extensive food industry networks to ensure the product’s success.
Louise Tran, Head of OzHarvest Ventures & Tim Triggs, Founder of ALTD Spirits accepts Gamechanger Award for Kakadu Kitchen X OzHarvest Conscious Drink
Working with local farming co-operative Oz-Group, the Conscious Drink team demonstrated how innovative practices can transform the industry. By collaborating with Waste Transition Focus, they turned blueberry waste into juice, saving it from being discarded.
The creators’ vision goes beyond creating a drink. Kakadu Kitchen, ALTD Spirits, and OzHarvest Ventures aim to share Bininj-Mungguy culture through food, tackle supply chain waste, and promote First Nations voices in the Australian bush food industry.
The collaboration exemplifies how businesses can come together with a higher purpose, driven by a spirit of positive impact and change.
Emerging Bininj artist Trentin Rasmussen designed the label artwork, featuring a bird eating a blueberry against a backdrop of traditional West Arnhem Land/Kakadu-style crosshatching, symbolising sustainability and cultural heritage.
After a successful sold-out first-edition production run, a new batch of Conscious Drinks are now available to purchase at: www.harvestbites.com.au
