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Vista backed by luxury property developer

8 February 2019

Kiwi sparkling water start-up Vista backed by luxury property developer

Less than 18 months after launching its naturally flavoured sparkling water, Auckland-based beverage start-up Vista has closed a large investment deal with property developer and investor Kurt Gibbons.

Vista, the brainchild of three Auckland schoolmates turned business partners, was developed in late 2017 after the co-founders saw a gap in the market for a genuinely healthy beverage that people could enjoy without feeling guilty.

The sparkling water, available in feijoa, berry and lemon flavours, contains nothing more than carbonated water and natural flavour derived from fruit. Unlike other flavoured waters on the market, it has no sugar, sweeteners or nasty additives and less than one calorie per can.

Vista initially attracted the attention of businessman Kurt Gibbons through its influencer marketing campaigns, having sent samples of the beverage to Kurt’s wife, The Crowd Goes Wild presenter Makere Gibbons (formerly Bradnam) and the wives of his close friends Beauden Barrett and Israel Dagg.

In his newly signed deal with Vista, Gibbons has committed to a lump sum cash injection and an interest-free line of credit in return for a 25 per cent stake in the business.

Gibbons founded Gibbons Co., a luxury property development company, in 2008. He is widely known as a major player in the Auckland and Wellington property markets for his involvement in boutique high-end development and commercial leasing.

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Gibbons is a self-made success story. After leaving school to enter employment at the end of sixth form, he saved an impressive $10,000 by the age of 18, which he used to buy his first investment property. He has spent the last 15 years investing in property and shares.

Gibbons says he was sold on the product as soon as he tasted it and immediately reached out to the founders to arrange a phone call.

“The boys really hit the nail on the head with Vista. It’s an incredibly simple product, with minimal ingredients and no hidden surprises. The founders have an impressive work ethic and our personal values are closely aligned, so getting involved in the business was a no brainer.

“The brand’s potential is huge, with the sparkling water market expanding rapidly as consumers become increasingly health conscious and choose to ditch sugary drinks,” says Gibbons.

Vista’s 27-year-old founders, Scott Day, Adam Sorensen and Russell Hopper, became friends while attending school together on Auckland’s North Shore.

Scott says the deal will ensure that Vista not only has the capital for growth, but the right expertise and experience too.

“After nearly three years of working behind the scenes on product development and getting Vista off the ground, we’re hugely excited to be bringing Kurt on board. Locally, his investment will enable us to focus on new product development and continual market growth, including expansion into school canteens. Encouraging Kiwi kids to reduce their sugar consumption is a massive priority for us, but until now we simply haven’t had the capital to compete with the beverage giants by supplying schools with fridges,” says Scott.

“Kurt’s investment will also help to drive the brand’s growth in offshore markets. We are confident that Vista can achieve massive results on a global scale and we are currently gearing up to launch in Australia later this year.”

Vista is currently available for purchase in 355ml cans at select New World, PAK’nSAVE, Four Square, Huckleberry, Night ‘n Day and Caltex stores, as well as a range of cafes and restaurants throughout New Zealand. 8-packs of each flavour are available at select Countdown, FreshChoice, SuperValue and Glengarry stores.

Visit www.vistadrinks.co.nz for stockist details and further product information.

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