FOUND WATER

There’s nothing more refreshing than cold naturally flavored water. At FOUND, they’re bringing delicious flavored water to us without all of the artificial ingredients.

We sat down with FOUND creators, Mark De Luca and Onur Kece to learn more about their goal of bringing the “Age of Artificial” to an end.

 

by CHLOE: Tell us a little about yourselves.

FOUND: We are Mark De Luca and Onur Kece, creators of FOUND beverage company. Our sole objective of FOUND is to reinvent the beverage category. We were the first to launch Pomegranate Juice in Australia and have tried to continuously innovate to bring consumers new beverage discoveries. That’s what the word FOUND is all about.

bC: What’s the story behind FOUND?

F: Mark was diagnosed with Cancer and Onur told him to drink Pomegranate juice to help with his recovery. Not able to find any Pomegranate Juice in Australia at all, we saw the opportunity to create a brand and bring it in. Since then, our ethos has been to bring the “Age of Artificial” to an end. To give people healthy, modern and interesting choices. So many beverages are laden with bad ingredients and our aim was to communicate / provide something easy, natural and real.

bC: What was your experience like starting your own business?

F: It’s been 8 years on a long, crazy rollercoaster - many ups and downs! You get thrown in the deep end and while you want to work on your specific strengths and grow the brand, you find yourself doing a heap of random stuff that is far from what you imagined. It is good though, you set your own rules and your thirst for success is the key that defines you.

bC: What were some challenges you faced along the way?

F: We survived the financial crisis (just), manufacturer problems; clients going out of business and not paying… you name it!! But, we wouldn’t change it for anything. It is rewarding seeing people with your product and actually enjoying it. Also having control of your direction everyday is great (although sometimes daunting).

bC: Where does FOUND water come from? How do you infuse your waters?

F: The still & sparkling waters are from one of the world’s finest mineral sources. Sourced & filled on adjacent springs at the base of Mount Uludag, Turkey’s highest peak. The still water is perfectly balanced with a ph of 7.4 while the sparkling water possesses gentle yet crisp carbonation with a BAR of 6.5.

The infused are lightly sweetened with natural (non-gmo) beet sugar & infused with natural aromas, these refreshing concoctions are 100% natural and do not contain any preservatives. We take natural fruit / spice extracts and mix them with the natural mineral water at the time of filling.

bC: What have been some big moments for FOUND?

F: Our USA launch in 2013 was made on the back of the Infused Water launch – that was biggest move we have made. Acquiring some key clients and seeing the brand progressively grow in the USA is the biggest though, and that is happening on a daily basis! We are excited to be expanding into CA and FL in 2015/2016 also.

bC: What’s the best way to enjoy FOUND sparkling water?

F: Very easy! FOUND is best enjoyed on ice after a refreshing dip in the pool on a hot summer’s day.

bC: Any drink recipes to share?

F: The Cucumber & Mint Gin – One measure of Gin on ice, topped with Cucumber & Mint Infused Sparkling Water, garnished with a slice of lime and a spring of mint.

bC: How do you see the FOUND brand and the by CHLOE. brand aligning?

P: Our whole concept of “The Age Of Artificial is Over” is really in sync with the CHLOE message of Eat Well Eat. Eat with Purpose. These days it is all about purity, truth, transparency and a natural ethos for personal wellbeing and sustainability as a whole.

bC: What should we expect from FOUND in the future?

F: We will continue to spread our wings and attempt to align with likeminded retail and foodservice brands like CHLOE. But, be on the look out for a new flavor come October!

bC: Has by CHLOE. changed the way that you view vegan food? How do you incorporate vegan/plant based living into your lifestyle?

F: Only recently has vegan food become more integral into our diets. We are two 30 something males and we typically eat like 30 something males!! Now though with young families and significant others who have introduced us to the vegan world, things have changed a lot – up to 3-4 meals per week are vegan and eating out at restaurants is happening more and more! It is actually delicious, and filling!

bC: Lastly, what does “Eat Well. Eat with Purpose.” mean to you?

F: A lot like the “Age of Artificial“ concept, it is all about understanding. Understanding what we put into ourselves is essential to our lives. And, what we take from the earth is important; it is scarce and needs to be treated preciously.

 

*Photos: courtesy of FOUND