A FAMILY has launched a healthy energy drink company with ambitions of taking on world market leaders Red Bull and Monster - after a brush with Hollywood royalty.
Richard McClellan, who lives in Sharples, had a dream about starting an energy drinks firm, to market Blu Steel, last March and told his wife Emma, 37, the following day.
Their brand name initially caused a bit of a stir as Paramount Pictures own the copyright for Blue Steel, used to name the pose of Ben Stiller’s character in the hit film Zoolander.
But with the distinctive branding and the different spelling of ‘Blu’ , the firm was given copyright trade in the UK for soft beverages and clothing.
Richard and Emma were equal to the challenge and set about creating a couple of recipes and developing their drink.
The couple also received help from three of Richard’s long-term friends as well as their two older children Lucas, 13, and Lily-May, 11.
In October, the family and Richard’s trio of pals held a mass tasting session in which they bought 60 different drinks.
Between them, they ruled out 30 flavours they did not like and drew up recipes for two drinks, one of them sweet and the other crisp and refreshing.
They were sent off for production and now the cans have hit the shelves of convenience stores in Bolton and Manchester. And they have won the custom of gyms in the borough, which will stock the drinks when they reopen.
Richard McClellan with the brand name painted on a wall behind him
Blu Steel's two drinks on sale
Blu Steel cans on the production line
The family also hope to attract business from large retailers and have grand plans to take their drinks worldwide, with partnerships in Australia and South Africa already forged and ambitions to trade in mainland Europe and America.
Richard, 38, who works in software security, has a degree in pharmaceutical science, which has helped him with the production process.
He said: “It’s been really exciting. We identified a gap in the market for healthy energy drinks that have natural ingredients with no sugar or calories and also taste nice.
“People have been ordering taster packs off our website and the feedback on taste and how they have made them feel has been really good.”
The company has also struck up a partnership with a Middle East business for clothing.
To visit Blu Steel's website click here.
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