Steve Naylor, 59, and his son Ben, 30, have produced a range of sparkling drinks by mixing carbonated water and fruit juices.
The range was inspired by Steve’s wife Sue, who, for many years, has created her own soft drinks by mixing grapefruit juice and soda water.
Now the pair, who live in Ockbrook, are preparing to launch the Reviva brand of drinks at one of the biggest food and drink trade fairs in the UK, Food and Drink Expo 2012, which runs at the NEC, Birmingham, from March 25th to 27th.
“The idea was going round in my head for a few months last year and then we decided to take the bull by the horns and we booked a stand at Expo, which then spurred us into action,” said Steve, who works as a chartered surveyor by trade.
“The flagship drink that we have created is a carbonated grapefruit juice, which was inspired by my wife. She started putting soda water into grapefruit juice about 15 years ago, and has been drinking it ever since. It made a really nice alternative soft drink when she went to a pub and was driving, or wanted something light.
“She liked it. I tried it and liked it, and various friends tried it and they all liked it too, so we decided we’d bottle our own versions.”
Steve and Ben have now created three different juice drinks under the Reviva brand – sparkling white grapefruit, sparkling ruby grapefruit and sparkling tropical fruit.
They have worked with the Uren Food Group in The Wirrall to perfect the blends, and have now bottled more than 2,000 bottles at Warwickshire College ahead of Expo, which attracts more than 550 exhibitors and thousands of visitors from the food and drink trade.
Steve and Ben have also launched a marketing and brand-awareness campaign, which focuses on the refreshing aspects of the Reviva drinks.
A Youtube video featuring Steve getting drenched has attracted almost 30,000 hits, and the pair have recently filmed a TV commercial that they plan to air in the future.
“We are very passionate about the Reviva range of drinks,” said Steve. “Both Ben and I like the drinks and are very confident about recommending them to people. The natural fruit juices have extremely wide health benefits, and don’t contain artificial ingredients. We think we have a unique juice brand.”
Steve and Ben hope to attract attention at Expo from the buyers of pubs, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, convenience stores and wholesalers, and hope their drinks will be on sale to the public soon.
“We understand that certain manufacturers have a strong hold on the market and we are against big competitors but we think we have a niche product here, which will appeal to women, men and children,” said Steve.
“The grapefruit juice in particular has known advantages for its fat-busting content, so we think the Reviva range will appeal to slimmers. The sparkling ruby grapefruit juice also contains a small amount of grape juice, which gives it a very moreish flavour and a very attractive colour. While the sparkling tropical fruit should have a very general appeal.”
Steve and Ben have worked with Derby advertising and marketing agency McConnells on their brand.
“Both Ben and I have a background in the property and building sector, and while I am continuing as a chartered surveyor and helping out in my spare time, this is a new direction for Ben, who has been thoroughly enjoying the internet marketing, video production and other aspects of the whole project,” said Steve.
The Reviva juice drinks brand will be exhibiting at stand C80 at Food and Drink Expo 2012.
For more information visit www.healthy-fruit-juice.co.uk/Reviva/
Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk
