Juice Fiji founder Panapasa Daunakamakama has tuned a family recipe into a thriving beverage brand.
Founder and Director of Juice Fiji, Panapasa Daunakamakama, said his product is to discipline the tastebuds instead of providing a pleasing taste.
Juice Fiji, as a brand, has become known for its healthy herbal juices.
“Our product is not just a regular juice. It combines herbs and superfoods such as ginger, turmeric, beetroot, watermelon, pineapple, and black pepper, along with rock salt. It is a unique product aimed at improving gut health, which is the foundation of our overall well-being,” Daunakamakama explained.
Juice Fiji began in 2018, and the idea came to his mind when his daughter was sick with a skin infection, which made him try alternative solutions to help her.
“I made this healthy juice for her and after a week, her skin started to heal and within a month the symptoms disappeared, and she was fine. I learnt this healthy juice from my grandmother who lived till 105 years and taught me this herbal remedies. She was a lady that always relied on herbal medicines and was very aware of what she ate and drank,” he added.
A former New Zealand rugby player turned farmer-entrepreneur who decided to turn a family recipe into a brand - Juice Fiji, with the intention to help the people of Fiji fight the battle with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), after spending 10 years in New Zealand, Daunakamakama decided to go back to Fiji and start farming to add value to the export market.
“It is my dream that through the work that I am doing locally by buying the raw materials from our Fijian farmers, producing a healthy local juice and than exporting this overseas, the cash flow comes back into Fiji and the people of Fiji benefit from this,” he said.
He acknowledged the support and assistance from the Fiji Trade Commission to Australia and New Zealand in helping him build his brand and marketing in New Zealand and expand his product into other regions.
“Juice Fiji has significantly grown its brand name in New Zealand, and we continue to support its expansion in other regions. It is always encouraging to see export-ready brands meet the demands and quality standards of the international market,” said Daniel Stow, the Fijian Trade Commissioner for Australia and New Zealand.
Daunakamakama has secured a New Zealand distributor, namely PC Foods who are the official suppliers of Juice Fiji in New Zealand. The Juice is now available in more than 30 stores across Auckland, Hamilton and Rotorua.
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