It started like any venture does: with a problem that needs to be solved. Ben Kelly saw there weren’t many appealing options for non-coffee drinkers: everything was mass-produced, bland, or too sugary. So he launched a company to create the solution - and now we have Somage, one of Australia’s most successful manufacturers and suppliers of non-coffee drinks.
Raised on a Victorian dairy farm, Ben’s love of produce and food led him to hospitality and hotel management in Melbourne and London before founding Somage in 2005.
Their first product, the now-famous Kali 33% drinking chocolate, paved the way for a wide range of teas, matcha, innovative drinks like beetroot and turmeric lattes, and allergen-friendly blends.
“In terms of products, we’re involved from start to finish,” says Ben. “We focus on quality for the end customer, and venues know they’re getting exactly that.”
These days, Somage continues to grow and evolve, and we spoke with Ben about how Ordermentum supports that journey.