Bondi Chai Latte has added a global marketing accolade to its list of achievements. The IBA/Stevie Awards, referred to as the ‘Business Olympics,’ attracted around 3,600 nominations from companies of all sizes across 62 countries and territories.
Bondi Chai’s marketing project, titled The Faces of Bondi Chai aimed at boosting customer sentiment in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, has been named one of the top three community engagement campaigns in the 21st International Business Awards.
They were judged by 300 business executives across a variety of categories including Company of the Year, Marketing Campaign of the Year, Start Up of the Year and Executive of the Year.
Bondi Chai’s Co-Founders, Melissa Edyvean and Martin Buggy, introduced the chai latte to Australia’s café culture more than 23 years ago and continue to operate their now-international business from a home-office in Port Stephens, NSW.
Martin said the company’s latest accolade was very gratifying.
“This is such an honour for our small team, and everyone involved in the campaign,” he said.
“Bondi Chai celebrates its 20th birthday next year and one of our greatest pleasures over the years, and a big part of our brand’s success, has been interacting with Bondi Chai lovers all over the world – our suppliers, distributors, the incredibly hard-working café owners who offer our product and Bondi Chai fans everywhere.
“Many people were hit very hard during all the Covid madness and as it wound down, we wanted to find a way to give them a boost with some well-deserved recognition and support.
“We re-designed our packaging to prominently feature studio pictures of a selection of Bondi Chai’s ‘heroes’, adding a QR code that linked to a webpage where each one shared a little of their story and promoting their story on our social media platforms. Packaging was updated much more frequently than usual to feature as many people as possible,” Martin said.
Launched in early 2022, 36 people from across Australia and overseas were featured during the 30 months of the campaign.
“It’s been a massive project, but it’s been so rewarding and for it to be recognised on a global scale is very special,” Martin said.
This international award backs up a national marketing excellence award earned by thecampaign in the 2023 ABA100 Australian Business Awards.
Bondi Chai’s other accolades include the 2014 NSW Micro Business of The Year and national finalist in the prestigious Telstra Business Awards and a gold Stevie Award for the Asia Pacific Food and Beverage Company of The Year, presented in Shanghai in 2015.
Bondi Chai products have also been continuously recognised nationally and internationally, having won foodie gold and silver medals in the years soon after launch and continuing to earn national and international awards.
“We’re a team of just 6 people managing a large group of contractors and businesses who help us to sell our products into every corner of Australia and many parts of Europe, the Middle East and Asia,” Martin said.
“Every one of them – together with Bondi Chai fans everywhere – shares this award.”
IMAGE | Martin Buggy and Melissa Edyvean from Bondi Chai Latte
