A new spirits distributor called Dispatch launched in Australia last month with a portfolio of sustainably-focused brands and big plans for major expansion.

Founded by industry veterans Aaron Shuttleworth, John O’Toole and Raul Gonzales, Dispatch offers a curated selection of premium spirits, with a strong emphasis on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles.

They include Takamaka, a rum from the Seychelles reducing its glass footprint; Two Drifters, a carbon-negative distillery; and Muyu Liqueurs, which donates proceeds to Amazonian reforestation.

“We saw too many distributors carrying overly inflated portfolios, leaving no room for emerging brands that truly deserved a
place in the hands of bartenders and consumers,” said co-founder O’Toole.

“Rather than continue to complain, we decided to create our own solution. Our vision is simple: build an exciting portfolio that reflects who we are and have fun with it – something this tired sector is in desperate need of.”

While Dispatch doesn’t enforce strict ESG markers, each brand it imports must have a significant social, ethical or
environmental contribution. The spirits distributor walks the talk in its operations, with a fleet of electric vans, transactions managed by Bank of Australia, and a focus on reducing its point-of-sale footprint by producing high-quality, long-lasting brand merchandise.

It will be an exciting summer for Dispatch with events planned for Compass Box in February and in the build-up to Mardi Gras with Supergay Vodka.

Looking ahead, Dispatch’s founders say they aim to have national coverage by 2026. The distributor will initially focus on the on-premise market before branching into larger off-premise channels.