Pat Joyce (Westport ) and Oliver Feeney (Ballina ) have created a brand new product for the beverages market. It is called “X-LITE” and the pair say they are delighted with their product and that they feel the market 'is calling out for this type of product'.
Pat said: "It all started last year when Covid-19 shut down the world. Oliver was meant to travel to Seoul in South Korea, and I was meant to travel to Shanghai for our international exchange. However, with airplanes around the world grounded, we had to make other plans.
"Chance tends to favour the prepared mind. So we explored the idea of starting something fun and exciting during our return to Trinity College Dublin, where we both studied business. Our mission was to make lemonade from the lemons Covid-19 cast us.”
Oliver added: "It was just by chance that we dropped into an entrepreneurship class. Here we pitched our idea and got the best grades in our class. So we decided to follow on with our concept and turn it into a reality. Over the course of the year, we made many changes to our initial idea. Then we qualified for Trinity’s LaunchBox Student Accelerator Programme. Here we met with industry leaders from around the world and our idea evolved."
Pat continued: "One of our core realisations was that no company was making a drink for our generation. We were sick of bloaty beers and bland seltzers. So we decided to go against the grain and start something different. Soon after the idea of X-LITE was born.
"X-LITE is a combination of alcohol + energy. Our recipe is top secret but our core ingredients are sparkling water, vodka, natural flavourings, and a touch of caffeine.
"Now we are at the next stage of our journey. As we enter stores in our hometowns of Ballina and Westport, it is an exciting time. We want to extend our thanks to everyone in the local community that has helped us get to where we are today and are pushing us toward a bright future tomorrow.”
X-LITE is currently available online, in SuperValu and Centra stores in Westport, and SuperValu Ballina.
