Queensland’s Beachtree Distilling Co has been awarded $380,000 by the Coles Nurture Fund to drive its sustainability and innovation plans.

Coles Group has awarded grants of up to $500,000 to nine small and medium sized businesses from across the country in the latest round of the Coles Nurture Fund, bringing the total financial support awarded to more than $36 million across 108 businesses since the funding initiative was established in 2015.

Since 2020, Caloundra-based Indigenous family-owned business Beachtree Distilling Co. has crafted small-batch gin, vodka and liqueurs with native-Australian ingredients and has been awarded $380,000 for its Re-spirits project, which aims to scale up their innovative Re-spirits project, transforming local and Indigenous waste from jam, spreads and cheese production into flavourful spirits.

Beachtree Distilling Co. Co-Founder Kirra Daley (pictured main) said the Re-spirits program would have a significant impact on her business and many other local farms.

“The ethos of Beachtree Distilling Co. and our bush-to-bottle drinks are rooted in my childhood, raised on Bundjalung Country where I was taught to respect and understand land and country,” she said.

“We plan on using our grant to acquire equipment to repurpose what other local businesses consider waste to create our delicious spirits, with the aim to create a more circular economy and reduce waste.

“As a small business, we have experienced many challenges over the years which is why we are so grateful for the
Coles Nurture Fund, as it will provided us with the space and resources to build our business while continuing to
support our local community.”

Coles Group Chief Commercial Officer Anna Croft said the Round 12 recipients were chosen for their industry-leading and high-impact projects, that will achieve impressive sustainability goals to reduce waste, enhance animal welfare, and reduce their carbon footprint.

“We are proud to be able to award more than $3.7 million to nine Aussie small and medium sized businesses — who represent a wide range of industries including the drinks sector — as part of the latest round of the Coles Nurture Fund,” Anna said.

“I am excited to watch all of the recipients bring to life their incredible ideas in their respective fields – demonstrating they are leading the way when it comes to innovation and sustainability.”

Asia Pacific’s first Net Zero sustainable brewery

Located in Busselton, Rocky Ridge Brewing Co. has been awarded $400,000 by the Coles Nurture Fund towards its project to become the first Net Zero certified sustainable brewery in the Australian and Asia Pacific region.

Founded on the idea that breweries weren’t using enough local ingredients despite having access to amazing local suppliers, Rocky Ridge Brewing Co. Co-Founder Hamish Coates said the funding help them to achieve their goals to reduce their environmental impact, focus on local sourcing, and progress on their journey to Net Zero.

“Our brewery operates off-grid using solar and batteries and the Coles Nurture Fund will allow us to upgrade these facilities to support our growth and install a wastewater reuse system, reducing the water consumption by 28%,” Coates (above) said.

“We are farmers in the south-west, so we know water is a precious resource and it is our responsibility to use less and do the right thing.

“The whole team was in a workshop together when we got the call that we had been awarded the Coles Nurture Fund and it was more than an opportunity to crack a celebratory beer — it was confirmation from a business like Coles that we are doing the right thing when it comes to the environment.”

Australian small businesses have been encouraged to apply for the thirteenth round of the Coles Nurture Fund when applications open again in January 2025.

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