From starting out in a garden shed in 2015, Kommunity Brew has grown into a one-of-a-kind functional beverage company intent on doing things its own way with a focus on impact as well as profit.
Founder and CEO, Mason Bagios, believes in nurturing fresh talent and promoting from within, and leads a team of 15. KB’s structured training program helps interns identify their strengths and potential, with many joining the business full-time. For example, the company’s general manager started as an intern from Curtin University in 2016.
Even during the challenges of Covid, KB retained all staff and focused on building strong customer relationships to alleviate team anxiety and uncertainty.
KB is bold in its branding, product innovation, and unwavering commitment to sustainability. The company has had year-on-year sales growth of 71 per cent and more than 450 stockists, including Coles.
Its new headquarters in Lathlain, Western Australia, was a derelict building KB transformed through recycling and repurposing reflects the company’s environmental stewardship. The new site has increased production capacity by 375 per cent.
The company’s product line-up includes an Australian-first probiotic sparkling water, health shots, and the Cold Matter range of cold-brewed coffee and tea. These offerings are all-natural, high in antioxidants, low-sugar, gluten-free, and either no-alcohol or low-alcohol, catering to the growing demand for healthier beverage options.
KB’s innovative production processes, such as the cold steeping of tea and coffee, have allowed them to capitalise on the growing health and wellness trend.
A small-scale production capability enabled KB to sign a deal with a coffee roaster and create a 100-litre prototype for Cold Matter, proving the concept for under $10,000.
In an exciting partnership with Perth-based pharmaceutical company MediCann, KB is venturing into the hemp wellness drink trend, positioning itself at the forefront of this emerging market in Australia.
The company works with CSIRO and local universities to maintain its commitment to innovation and growth.
Currently, KB is focused on research into hydration, gut microbiome, and nervous system function, capturing new and trending nutraceuticals for product development. Its new brewery, built with recycled and reclaimed materials, utilises energy-efficient solar heat pumps and electrified boilers. During summer, the building sources about 70 per cent of its energy use from solar power, aiming to utilise 100 per cent of each day’s solar energy quota.
