Startup Story
Taking a sustainable approach to business is a key in today’s changing world. For entrepreneur Jess Henrich, founder of A Mari Ocean Gin, sustainability was a key ingredient in her business.
LoA was keen to find out more from this pioneering entrepreneur this month.
What does your company do?
A Mari is the only ocean water distilled gin in the world. The saltwater is sustainable, and doesn't use up precious drinking water, and also impacts the flavour tremendously.
“A Mari Ocean Gin is the only ocean water distilled gin in the world. The saltwater is sustainable, and doesn't use up precious drinking water.”
What inspired you to start your company?
I was living in Ibiza at the time and working as a copywriter, and the Spanish gin craze was taking off. Ibiza itself is covered in wild growing juniper and at the time there was no Ibiza Gin being made on the island so I started on that path and went to see the the Ibicenc Preservation fund (for land) and the Government bodies for licensing. It was all coming together nicely, then, having gone quite far down that path, I came back to South Africa to sell everything I owned and learned how to distill - then I flew back to Ibiza. In the time I was away, the legisilation changed and it was no longer viable. I spent a year in London and Cape Town dreaming about having my own gin brand but not having enough money to start it on my own, and working as a copywriter to pay the bills. In 2016 my business partner Niel moved back to Cape Town (we are old friends from university). We got drunk at a catch up dinner, and I told him about the idea and at 3am we bought a potstill on the internet. We both quit our jobs the next day and started distilling - sourcing all the edible plants along the coastline we could find.. it was a mad journey. Three months after that night, because Niel had committed to a gin bar at the Lanzerac Race Day, we launched, and two months later A Mari Atlantic won a Silver at the International Wines and Spirits Awards ( Hendricks Gin won the same award the year before).
What makes your business, service or product special?
The fact that it is the only gin in the world made with ocean water. It has never been done before, and is such a unique element to the process and the flavour. Also the passion and care that goes into every single bottle - I still grow all the indigenous botanicals myself.
“I love a new challenge and learning a new industry and skill set!”
Tell us a little about your team
Niel du Toit is a South African born architect by trade and spent most of his adult life in London. He also ran a very successful textile import company before selling that and coming back to Cape Town, where he started A Mari with me. Niel has an incredible palate and is a very skilled distiller, as well as being the logistics and operations guru.
For myself, I grew up in Kenya, went to school in Switzerland and Swaziland, and University in Cape Town and UK. I also travelled and lived all over the world before moving back to Cape Town. I am passionate about flavours and botany, and also love distilling. We are both creatives, largely self taught and very determined to make ventures succeed.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?:
I do, I started a sports clothing equipment company in 2009 having no background in textiles or fashion, and we went on to become the suppliers of the South Africa national team. I have also launched and run a copywriting agency with a partner, had a furniture import business and now the alcohol industry. I love a new challenge and learning a new industry and skill set!
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
Our goal is to get a bottle of A Mari into every sea facing bar in the world, and are looking for friends and partners to help us with our challenge. Downstream we would like to expand the portfolio into other ocean spirits.
“Our goal is to get a bottle of A Mari into every sea facing bar in the world, and are looking for friends and partners to help us with our challenge.”
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
The freedom, the constant flux and change, no two days are alike. Also watching your idea grow into something tangible, and specifically with A Mari, being able to walk into a bar and see people enjoying my gin, that never gets old.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Three things:
Firstly, don't give up. Life will throw obstacles at you all the time, you will overcome them.
Secondly, believe in yourself, we women are resilient and creative beings, you can do anything you set your mind to.
And finally, act now, just take the first step. The rest will follow. Be brave.
Find out more
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL jess@amarigin.com
Why LoA loves it….
They say some entrepreneurs just have an instinct for business and opportunities, seeing gaps in the market in which to innovate. Jess Henrich is one of those entrepreneurs. Her passion for, and interest in, the art of gin making led her to take a leap of faith and follow that passion into creating a new business, finding a niche in the market at the same time. Today, her brand is award-winning and world class, with a strong differentiated market offering. This is definitely a brand to watch in this rapidly expanding global market place. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo of Lionesses of Africa