Bega Group partnership boosts Naked Life’s network

Bega Group, one of Australia's largest cold chain networks, has revealed it will add the Naked Life Group's (NLG's) lifestyle beverage range to its portfolio. The partnership will see the Bega Group take on sales, marketing and distribution of NLG's better-for-you lifestyle beverage range.

#1 AFR Fast Starters fastest growing company of 2022 Naked Life is an Australian-owned and operated business focusing on bringing health mainstream by creating healthy drink alternatives using natural ingredients and prioritising flavour.

From September, the Bega Group will be the exclusive distributor of NLG's lifestyle beverage range, including soda, iced tea, bubble tea and sparkling nootropics (excluding their non-alcoholic cocktail, spirits, and mixers range), boosting NLG's accessibility to the market.

Darryn Wallace, Executive General Manager Bega Dairy and Drinks, says, "The Bega Group is excited to take another step towards achieving its business purpose of creating great food for a better future. Our passion for high-quality Australian food and beverages, coupled with almost 125 years of experience makes us the perfect fit to bring Naked Life's range to more Aussies.

Wallace says the partnership offers an opportunity to round out Bega's beverage portfolio.

"With Naked Life Group's great tasting lifestyle beverage range and their ability to continually innovate to meet evolving consumer needs, we will now be able to offer our customers a larger, more versatile drinks offering from milk beverages, to juice and now lifestyle drinks."

In the last 12 months, sugar-free beverages have grown three times that of full-sugar beverages in convenience, indicating a strong consumer demand for sugar-free offers. (Source: IRI AU Convenience Scan, Value $, MAT 30/07/2023)

In addition to Naked Life's current range of sparkling nootropics and reduced sugar bubble teas, NLG's Lifestyle range includes sugar-free, naturally sweetened soda and iced tea products free of artificial colours and flavours.

David Andrew, Managing Director and Founder of Naked Life says, "As a startup Australian business, the opportunity to work with the Bega Group, one of Australia's most trusted food and beverage businesses is extremely exciting.

"This partnership will be a key part of fulfilling our goal of delivering our promise of tasty refreshing drinks with low or no sugar to more Australians and becoming Australia's largest better-for-you beverage business.

"Working together, we can bring everyday Australians a range that provides a healthier alternative to many other carbonated beverages currently in the market while losing none of the yum."