CORLETTE residents Martin Buggy and Melissa Edyvean created the popular beverage Bondi Chai while living in Tasmania, and despite the odd circumstances it has proved a winner.
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The Bondi Chai Latte company, named after the beach because of its international fame, has been listed as a finalist in the Telstra Business Awards.
"It's crazy, but it's lovely," Ms Edyvean said of the finalist position.
The couple were on a holiday in the US when they fell in love with the taste of a good chai latte and decided to import the product and sell it in Australia.
But in 2004 the source, a cafe in the US, dried up and the only answer was to start their own company. Using their experience working in public relations, Mr Buggy and Ms Edyvean launched Bondi Chai, which now has annual global sales approaching $2 million and is available at Woolworths and Coles supermarkets.
As to how they ended up living in Port Stephens, it was another leap of faith.
"We loved living in Tasmania but it was very isolated. We drove up the east coast to find a place close to both an airport and a city, and Port Stephens won out."
The state winners of the Telstra Business Awards are announced at a dinner in July, which both Mr Buggy and Ms Edyvean will attend to find out if they will go on to the nationals.
