We have received amazing feedback from the community and across Australia about Cafe Dunk and it was incredible to see this write up from Hunter Business Reviews about the world first product as well as our recent award at the 2020 Hunter Manufacturing Awards (HMA).
Last month we were honoured to win the 2020 HMA Manufacturing Pivot Award. With our business being dependent upon the hospitality industry, the pandemic was set to hit our company hard with significant downturn in our commercial dishwashing products.
We had truly risen to the challenge and within eight days we had completely revamped our supply chain and production line. This motivated our company to expand our support to Zexa Chemicals which originally represented only 8% of our sales. From our quick response to the pandemic, we were able to grow our chemical product line to the scale of tripling the company’s overall turnover.
Hunter Business Review Article
SIRRON HOLDINGS AND CAFÉ GURU TEAM UP TO TACKLE DISPOSABLE CUP PROBLEM
Sean Edwards is a well-known name in café circles. As founder of the Café Culture brand, he and his entrepreneurial team have long been thought leaders in all things coffee and café. As keen advocates and campaigners for sustainability through the widespread use of reusable cups since the late 90’s, they watched with growing alarm as COVID pandemic restrictions all but forced cafes and customers to stop using them.
Sean became increasingly concerned at the implications of that on sustainability but the difficulty of managing the speedy cleaning and sanitising of the reusable cups was a problem no one seemed able to tackle. Until he got a phone call from Greg Gates, Managing Director of the Sirron Holdings Group.
“I was at a loss as to how to get reusable cups back into cafes,” said Mr Edwards.
“When Greg called to talk to me about a new alcohol-free sanitiser solution they had developed, I had an instant feeling he was onto something.”
Mr Gates felt an instant alignment with the sustainability values at the heart of the Sirron Group.
“When Sean turned the conversation to his concern that we were seeing the death of the reusable cup industry and all that implied for sustainability, we knew we had to help. Moreover, we knew we could help,” said Mr Gates.
The two and their teams then set about collaborating on solving the key issues holding the industry back: speed and ease of application and impact of the product on baristas, equipment and the reusable cups themselves.
“For the busy café sector, especially with the increased pressure on takeaway service, we knew that time was of the essence,” said Mr Gates.
“We developed a food-grade ‘dunking’ solution for reusable cups that sanitises in 30 seconds-1 minute. By the time you’ve ordered and paid for your coffee, the cup is ready for the barista to make it!”
In Australia, one billion paper coffee cups, along with their plastic lids, are thrown away every year.
There are numerous sources that cite the increasing use of paper coffee cups in Australia and the impact on sustainability of both ‘regular’ and even recyclable paper cups. Most agree the best solution is the reusable cup.
It seems that Café Culture and The Sirron Group have formed a formidable alliance in this venture and are set to continue to provide solutions to positively change the way cafes operate in the future.
“The Sirron Group is a small business with a big heart,” said Mr Gates. “The opportunity to create a product that directly helps the cafes of Australia and their customers towards a more sustainable future makes us proud.”
“This is such a simple solution to the problem,” said Mr Edwards.
“Greg and the Sirron development team at Zexa Chemicals have made it even easier for the reusable cup scene than it was prior to the pandemic.”
A simple solution with a simple name, “Café Dunk” will soon be available via distributors across Australia.