Vodka magnate to launch cosmetics range
The Herefordshire entrepreneur behind Tyrells Crisps and Chase Vodka has revealed to Insider his plans to generate several “distinctive” vodka flavours, as well as a cosmetics and moisturiser line. William Chase, whose vodka is created using potatoes, said that he is currently testing a line of marmalade, lemon, earl grey tea and spice infused tipples as he prepares to launch his flagship vodka in the Far East this month.
Chase will launch his vodka, which was voted the best in the world last year, in Shanghai later this month and has his sights set on India.
“We already have some interest in India,” said Chase. “But I think there’s a much larger market that we can tap into.”
He said that the Far East presented “a gap in the market” for his vodka.
Having sold his shares in the Tyrells Crisps brand which he founded several years ago, Chase turned his full attention to extending and refining his vodka range.
“We’re constantly innovating the flavours and ideas that we have for the range of vodka. We’re about to launch the marmalade flavour – that was something no-one else had tried. You have to be creative in this day and age, or you get left behind. We’re also experimenting with earl grey tea, lemon and spiced flavours.”
Chase revealed that he was also looking into generating a line of cosmetics and moisturisers.
He said: “We want to make it very natural. No-one’s come up with the kind of products we’d be launching with the range of materials we’d use. They have to be environmentally friendly, with a clean history behind them, something people would want to use.”
Looking to the future, Chase said he had “plenty of ideas” to grow his family brand. “We tried to generate petrol from the potato waste, but it was just too expensive. I think it could have been achieved if we’d have had help from the government, but at the moment, it’s not sustainable. Who knows where that idea could lead in the future, though.
“We want to come up with totally new ides. Our vodka needs to stand out on the shelves – like the marmalade flavour we’re about to bring out. Bars and restaurants will have something completely new to offer their customers – that’s what we need to keep doing.”
