#129 From Side Hustle to Shelf: How Solbevi is Taking on Aperol

You’ve got the vision - but do you have the supply chain to scale it?

For episode 129, I sat down with Stefan Di Benedetto, founder of Solbevi, the limoncello spritz brand shaking up the drinks industry across Australia and New Zealand. His goal? Nothing short of global domination.

But here’s the reality: scaling a challenger brand isn’t just about a great product, it’s about making smart manufacturing and distribution moves, fast.

Stefan’s story is one of relentless ambition, resilience, and strategy. He went from a side hustle in construction to outselling Aperol in key venues, securing Dan Murphy’s, and landing a major NZ retail deal with Super Liquor.

But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing, and in this episode, he opens up about:

🍋 Why he believes limoncello has the same global potential as Aperol - and how he’s positioning Solbevi to own the ‘yellow bottle’ space.

🍋 The unexpected production challenges that came with moving manufacturing  to NZ - and what he’s learned from shuffling stock across warehouses to keep up with demand.

🍋 How he got stocked in Australia’s biggest liquor retailers (hint: persistence and standout packaging go a long way).

🍋 The funding realities of the drinks industry, why he was naïve going in, and what he’s doing differently now to secure investment for expansion.

And just before we recorded? He got hit with a massive setback - one that’s going to cost him big. But this ‘drinkpreneur’ who says “things happen for a reason,” is making limoncello out of every lemon he gets served!

This episode is for every Foodpreneur navigating the highs and lows of scaling. If you’re pushing for something big but feel the weight of every challenge, Stefan’s story will remind you that the biggest brands don’t just happen, they’re built through hard work and determination.

LINKS & RESOURCES:

• Solbevi website
• Solbevi at Dan Murphy’s
• Vintage Sellers website
• Super Liquor website
• Your Free Pitch Plan
• Become A Foodpreneurs Festival Insider
• Become a Chelsea Ford Insider

Season 14

Season 14, out now, is 'Scale Season' and is being presented by Chelsea Ford Co.’s 10th anniversary.

For a decade, Chelsea Ford has backed Foodpreneurs and pushed to shake up an industry that too often plays it safe and leaves smaller players behind. She champions bold products, smarter tech, and better ways of working - because the future of CPG should be shaped by ideas, not just deep pockets.

Chelsea believes every emerging brand deserves a fair shot - not crumbs from the big end of town. Founders, no matter their gender, ethnicity, cultural background, spiritual path, sexual orientation, or beliefs, deserve their place on the shelves.

Chelsea stands for healthy competition - real competition - where brave ideas and fresh brands rise up because they’re good, not because they’re bankrolled.

This podcast is part of that mission. Every episode sparks bigger thinking, practical action, and the connections you need to get your products into more hands - and more money in your pocket.

Ten years in, she’s more committed than ever. The next decade is wide open for those ready to do things differently and back themselves to grow.

Click this link to see how you can be part of it.