The recently launched Honolulu-based Zingipop Sodaworks produces non-alcoholic craft sodas made entirely of local ingredients.
According to its website, Zingipop Sodaworks “is committed to supporting local agriculture through the sale of added value, non-alcoholic beverage products. Our soda is made without additives or preservatives, using 100% locally grown fruit, roots, herbs and lightly sweetened with local honey.”
Co-owners and crafters Adam “Sully” Sullivan and Amelia “Mia” Stucker said in written responses to questions from Pacific Business News that Sullivan visited his grandparents in Kailua regularly as a child, and he later moved to Honolulu in 1998. He studied plant sciences at the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.
Sullivan has done various agricultural educational programs and private consulting, the pair noted. He began working at a local brewery, helping build it from the ground up, where he learned how to brew on a large-scale system.
It was an experience critical in helping Sullivan accomplish his dream of starting a ginger beer company, they said
Sullivan met Stucker at the brewery, where they realized “they had a mutual interest in starting a beverage company, and that was when Zingipop Sodaworks was born,” the pair wrote.
Stucker, who originally hails from Maine, is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, which brought her to Oahu four years ago. She has a background in project management and has been taking classes in entrepreneurship and accounting at Kapiolani Community College.
Currently, Sullivan and Stucker are the sole employees at Zingipop Sodaworks, but “we would love to hire employees once we are able to do so.”
The company had a soft opening in May after participating in the University of Hawaii Venture Competition, where it placed second out of more than 40 companies, and began selling soda in August. However, the pair started the process a year ago leasing production space in Kalihi and ordering equipment, they said.
The pair responded to the following questions together.
How do you source your ingredients? We work with local, small farms using pono practices, as well as food hubs and ag huis throughout the Islands.
Why is it important to you to support local agriculture? As 90% of our food is imported to Hawaii, we want to help create a more sustainable food system. We believe in supporting local farmers, as there is an ecological and cultural imperative to supporting responsible agriculture within our Islands.
Can you talk about your participation in the UH Venture Competition – what was that like and what did you gain from the experience? The UH Venture Competition was a wonderful opportunity for us to ensure we were taking steps in the right direction for our business and also to network with business professionals who offered a lot of helpful advice.
What products/drinks do you offer? We offer our non-alcoholic craft soda in 12-ounce cans and sixtel kegs. We use 100% local ingredients and lightly sweeten with local honey. We also offer honey-free sodas and rotating seasonal flavors.
Where can people find your products? Our products are currently available through Farm Link, Kualoa Grown, Grace in Growlers, Nii Superette and The Country Eatery. We also participate in various pop-up markets throughout the year, including the 2023 Made in Hawaii Festival.
What are your goals for the next year? Our main goal is to develop and grow a customer base by collaborating with other local businesses.
Do you have any plans for expansion on the horizon? We are doubling our production capacity in December with the addition of new equipment. We plan on hiring employees as our sales increase.
What do you like most about what you do? We love the challenge of creating a sustainable, 100%-local product. It’s much more expensive to make than a traditional soda, but we are dedicated to supporting our farmers and coming up with creative new solutions in developing value-added products.
How did you fund your start? We have bootstrapped the entire business from the start. We are currently seeking financing to help reach our expansion goals.
What are your revenues for 2023? We just started sales in August, so our revenues are limited to date. Projected [revenue by] end-of-year is $20,000. Revenue in 2024 is expected to grow to $150,000.
Zingipop Sodaworks
Adam "Sully" Sullivan and Amelia "Mia" Stucker, co-owners and crafters
Address: 1806 Kalani St., Ste. A, Honolulu, HI 96819
Phone: 808-741-5407
Email: aloha@zingipop.com
Website: zingipop.com
Instagram: @zingipop
