About Us

Bringing new life to waste

Our Story

This idea originated during the COVID 19 pandemic, when our founder, Safir, was trying to find a cheap way to create ethanol for hand sanitiser. During his research , he discovered that over 22 million slices of bread were wasted each day in the UK alone, which sparked the concept of turning bread into to ethanol. However, as the pandemic reached its end, the demand for hand sanitiser reduced significantly and so the idea was halted.

Then, in 2022 the UEA Changemakers competition reignited the idea , but with a new direction: creating a bread based sustainable vodka. Since then, the concept has gained unbelievable support and traction, resulting in grant funding and the development of a vast and valuable network.

After extensive research and testing, we now have a product ready for market, fulfilling our goal of creating a sustainable, high-quality and better-tasting alternative.

Our Journey

Our journey began in 2020, but it truly took off in the summer of 2021 during the UEA Changemakers programme. It was during this pivotal time that we first pitched our idea to an audience of 300 people and a panel of five judges. Although we didn’t win, we were honored to be finalists, which provided us with the initial funding to transform years of theory into practice.

With this momentum, we received the "Try It" grant from Santander, which allowed us to purchase our first set of production equipment and begin our research in earnest. This foundational work led us to the University of East Anglia’s (UEA) Dragons' Den, where we showcased the first version of our product and won.

Our success at Dragons' Den opened doors, leading us to an invitation to Barclays HQ in Canary Wharf, where we engaged with a wealth of support for small businesses at the National Enterprise Network (NEN) Conference. With renewed focus, we dedicated our efforts and resources to enhancing our product, ensuring it was not only effective and cost-efficient but also delivered an exceptional taste. Our mission: to create a sustainable vodka made from bread that would otherwise go to waste.

Our journey then took us to Manchester, where we proudly won the University of Law’s Business School’s Most Sustainable Business award. This recognition further prepared us for our Grow It pitch at the UEA Enterprise Center, where we secured another grant, making it possible to bring our vision to life.

Today, we stand on the brink of an exciting new chapter, gearing up for our imminent launch. Our journey has been one of perseverance, innovation, and unwavering commitment to sustainability, and we are thrilled to share what comes next.

FAQ'S

Is your product actually sustainable?

Yes! 99% of all spirits you drink are made using grain grown specifically for alcohol. By choosing Vida you are offsetting the huge environmental and land cost of this practice. Our method using waste bread, means that we are completely carbon neutral!

Is Vida vegan and gluten free?

Yes! Even though we used waste bread, the distillation process completely removes any trace of gluten. Also, all of our production method and ingredients, are completely animal product and cruelty free.

Where can I buy it?

As of right now you can purchase online or at a variety of alcohol shows and events we will be visiting and will keep you updated of dates and locations!

How is your vodka made?

I can’t give too much away, but very simply, we take waste bread and cook it down into a sweet wort, ferment it and then distill it multiple times into a great tasting smooth spirit.

What inspired you to create Vida Vodka?

We saw the rising concerns of food waste and climate change face by this country and decide to act on it, by empowering consumers to make positive choice for the environment without losing out on quality and taste.

Why vodka?

We chose to start with vodka for its simplicity and versatility, allowing us to quickly bring a product to market. However, our expertise goes beyond vodka as we have the ability to produce other spirits such as gin, aged drinks like rum, and even ethanol. Vodka was just the first step in showcasing our commitment to quality and innovation across various types of alcohol.