Australian manufacturing capabilities have helped Melbourne-based coffee brand First Press expand its ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee range, with support from Victorian manufacturer Tongala Nutrition and processing and packaging company Tetra Pak.
According to Tetra Pak, the partnership has enabled First Press to develop and test new products, scale commercial production and expand into domestic and international markets without requiring significant upfront investment in its own manufacturing infrastructure.
First Press initially identified an opportunity to bring café-quality cold brew coffee to Australian supermarket shelves, targeting consumers seeking premium coffee options with less sugar. The company has since expanded into dairy-based, protein and plant-based RTD coffee products.
Tongala Nutrition provides formulation support, product testing and flexible production runs, while Tetra Pak contributes processing technology, packaging solutions and product development expertise. The arrangement allows First Press to trial products and assess demand before committing to larger-scale production.
“We’re proud to be the first in Australia to offer the 300ml Tetra Prisma® package with a cap, creating new opportunities for brands like First Press to optimise their products with innovative production equipment and packaging,” said Siddharth Jani, founder and CEO of Tongala Nutrition.
Sonalika Sharma, head of portfolio and product innovation at Tetra Pak, said local manufacturing partnerships could help food and beverage businesses bring new products to market while managing the complexity of development and production.
“Not every brand is ready to invest in infrastructure from day one,” Sharma said. “Working with manufacturing partners like Tongala Nutrition, we provide the expertise, testing capabilities and production flexibility brands need to launch with confidence and grow sustainably.”
First Press co-founder Jimmy Elias said the partners had provided flexibility during the company’s early product development, particularly in production volumes, formulation and testing.
Tetra Pak reports that First Press products are now available in more than 2,500 retail locations across Australia, with the business also expanding into markets in Asia and the Middle East.
The companies say the collaboration demonstrates how shared manufacturing infrastructure and technical support can help beverage brands test new products and increase production as their businesses grow.
