Testing a brand new taste in colas (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Testing a brand new taste in colas

12:00pm Tuesday 28th March 2006 in

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THE launch of a new brand of cola in a major supermarket chain went off with a big fizz for two Walthamstow businessmen.

Customers at the Selborne Walk branch of Asda tried out Evoca cola for the first time at a launch recently.

Asif Salahuddin and Intisar Qasim, both 29, of Walthamstow, are the masterminds behind the new product.

They have developed a high quality alternative to take on the leading cola brands.

Evoca cola is made using natural mineral water, coca leaf and cola nuts.

It also includes extract of nigella sativa, also known as black seed, believed to have health qualities.

The businessmen have launched the product from their offices in Hoe Street and are already exporting to South Africa, with further plans for national and international distribution on schedule.

Mr Salahuddin said: "It's good news for us because the product is already selling well. We know we can beat the leading brands in taste challenges, and the customers were saying the same thing when they tried Evoca at the launch."

The pair were approached by Andy Long, Asda's local trading manager, who asked if the branch could stock the line. Mr Qasim thanked Mr Long and said: "Asda are very pleasant people to do business with and made the whole process of becoming an Asda supplier very easy for us.

"We appreciate their stance on supporting local companies."