Jesse Leeworthy and Jonathon Byrt have adapted their memobottle water container to be used for sanitiser. Pictures: Supplied
Business adapting to emergency AGILITY and the ability to pivot have become buzzwords to describe the ability of businesses to adapt to the emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The commercial reality is that most commercial enterprises are being forced to close their doors and face major profit losses. However, some businesses have been able to pivot by changing product seeking new ways of distributing their existing product. Jesse Leeworthy and his business partner Jonathon Byrt have been able to swing their trademark business of making plastic water bottles to home deliver bottles of hand sanitiser. The pair entered the commercial world some years ago with the memo bottle, a slim plastic water bottle that
could easily fit into a satchel alongside a computer. The former Mornington Peninsulabased residents designed the reusable bottles after seeing plastic bottles strewn across peninsula beaches. Memobottles were added to gift bags handed out to nominees at the 2016 Oscars in Hollywood (“Take note, a bottle makes debut at Oscars” The News 23/2/16). “It’s a challenge all over the world right now - brands trying or being forced to pivot and adapt to stay relevant and afloat during this time of uncertainty,” Leeworthy said, naming luxury goods manufacturer LVMH and car maker Tesla as examples of companies that “reinvented” production lines. He said Melbourne-based memobot-
tle was “repositioning … to deliver a campaign and product offering that strikes the balance of much-needed humour with a practical solution”. Leeworthy said the slim, rectangular bottle held 375ml of sanitiser that could be decanted into smaller spray bottles and dispensers “or used straight from the memobottle”. The compostable packaging was made from rice, potatoes and corn derivatives blended with a copolymer. The sanitiser was made at a factory in Braeside. Once the sanitiser was user the bottle could be cleaned and used as a day-to-day drink bottle. Leeworthy said memobottle would soon try to raise money towards making “a filter which kills viruses and bacteria”. Keith Platt
Brewers call on community to drink up Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au INDEPENDENT breweries on the Mornington Peninsula are under pressure as their taprooms, bars and community areas are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past decade, independent breweries have become part of the peninsula’s economy, adding to the its reputation as a hub for innovation and culinary excellence creating places for social connection. They are likely to be important assets as communities struggle to get back on their feet following COVID-19. The Independent Brewers Association is calling for people to buy locally made beer to support these businesses in their time of need. David and Karen Golding, who established Red Hill Brewery in Shoreham Road, Red Hill South, in 2005 are selling beer online and offering a take-away service to try and keep their team in business. “We’re not confident we are going to see this through,” Ms Golding said. “Initially, we advised our workforce to visit Centrelink, but we’re hoping the recent JobKeeper arrangements will enable them to stay on and help us to stay in business in some way. “We don’t want a governmentbacked loan to build more debt. It’s already hard enough in small business and we’re shattered to see all our customers’ businesses going through the same. I cannot imagine what the other side is going to look like.
“But we can only take it day by day, week by week; it’s all happened so fast we can only wait and see what’s coming this week.” Richard Jeffares, of Two Bays Brewing Co, in Trewhitt Court, Dromana, is more hopeful as bottle shops can stay open. “We only make gluten-free beers so we have a bit of a niche following with small and major retailers, and online sales have always been a part of our model,” he said. “At any time we could be sending beer to Darwin, Port Headland or Broken Hill.” Mr Jeffares said sales were down by up to 50 per cent. “We are doing our best to keep people engaged online to drive sales through our website.”
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Independent Brewers Association chairman Peter Philip said more than 650 independent breweries employed about 3000 people and support a further 25,000 in the wider economy in agriculture, logistics, manufacturing, tourism and related services. “I’ve done forecasts of the best and worst-case scenarios and even the best case is pretty devastating for the industry,” Mr Philip said. “The government assistance package announced so far is helpful, but we’re still to understand how brewers can recover with little to no revenue over an extended period. To find out what services are available at Red Hill Brewery, Two Bays Brewing and at other independent breweries visit iba.org.au
Feeling the pinch: Richard Jeffares, of Two Bays Brewing, and Karen and David Golding, of Red Hill Brewery. Pictures: Supplied
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