About Us
Meet the Wonki Team, Max, Bridget and Gabe. Three university students tackling Australia's huge food waste issue.
How it started
It’s not just because we were uni students that we landed on making an alcoholic bevvy — we wanted to do something fun, exciting, and delicious that could actually bring people together.
Way more exciting than the doom and gloom you usually hear about food waste, right?
In 2022, while studying at Monash University’s Fastrack Accelerator program, we dreamt up the idea for Wonki: a business model built around rescuing waste-bound fruit and turning it into really good sips, thanks to local Aussie manufacturers.
On day one, we pitched Wonki to the program and the feedback was... brutal.
“Team, what do you think you’re doing? This idea hasn’t been validated at all — it’s not a business.”
That sting actually kicked us into gear. We spent the next 12 months out there — interviewing around 150 students, hanging around Dan Murphy’s, and gently (okay, maybe not-so-gently) bombarding shoppers with questions like:
- “What do you think of this idea?”
- “Would you actually buy this?”
- “How would you make it better?”
We kept iterating, tweaking, testing — until the feedback got louder and clearer: people loved it. And they wanted more.
How it's going
In early 2023, after hitting our crowdfunding target, Wonki turned from a scrappy idea into a real-deal beverage you can actually enjoy.
In 2024, Wonki was recognised by Endeavour Group as the Sustainability Supplier of the Year for 2024.
For us, this award means so much more than a shiny trophy — it shows that Dan Murphy’s and BWS are genuinely committed to backing local businesses that are setting a new standard for environmentally friendly (and delicious) products. That’s something really special, and we’re proud to be part of it.
We also took out Best in Category at the Good Design Awards 2024 for ‘A Sustainable Alcoholic Sip — Doing the World a Flavour’.
Big wins for a small idea with a big mission.
Today, we’re full-time students (and full-time fruit savers), working to rescue perfectly good Australian produce and squeeze it into every batch we make.
The fruit’s a little wonki, but the taste? 100% on point.
Every can you crack saves real Australian produce from going to waste.
Do The World A Flavour — grab yourself a Wonki.
READ ABOUT US
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Good Design
All the DeetsBest in Category at the Good Design Awards 2024 for ‘A Sustainable Alcoholic Sip — Doing the World a Flavour’.
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Supplier of the Year
Inside ScoopWonki was recognised by Endeavour Group as the Sustainability Supplier of the Year for 2024
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Broadsheet
Delicious DetailsWonki takes funny-looking produce that would otherwise become food waste and turns it into seasonal hard seltzers.
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Dan's Daily
Juicy detailsa stunningly simple concept that’s revolutionary in its impact: take the unwanted fruit that so often goes to landfill, smoosh it up and turn it into a kick-ass range of ready-to-drink bevs!
