Franka – with a distinct taste of success
Friends gather tightly on the wooden deck. The evening sun pours in, and the scent of lilacs blends with freshly cut grass. Laughter rings out around the charcuterie board, and ice clinks in dewy glasses.
The Scanian beverage house Franka has, quite literally, placed itself at the heart of this wonderful feeling. Their two non-alcoholic aperitifs with a Nordic touch in spring 2025 won gold at the world’s largest competition for non-alcoholic beverages. The journey began in the summer of 2020.
“I had recently been pregnant and realized there was a real lack of tasty non-alcoholic aperitifs,” says Stephanie W Godée, one of the three founders of the family business.
She recalls rushing in to share her idea with her brother Per. They had long bounced business ideas with each other, and now she had found a gap on the beverage shelf. Per also remembers the moment and the excitement.
“All of a sudden, everything just clicked. Stephanie and her partner Efe’s background in the hotel and restaurant industry, and my own experience in fitness and health. And it was an idea that felt meaningful — both for individuals and for society. It was a no-brainer,” says Per Godée.
The fact that their business idea coincided with the global trend of young people drinking less alcohol was, of course, no drawback. Nor was the fact that Stephanie had many years of experience as an Art Director, when it came time to develop the design and brand personality.
Krinova marked the starting point of the journey
The first thing they did was contact Krinova. The food incubator’s experienced business designers help innovative startups evaluate and develop their business ideas.
“Our close collaboration with Krinova, and the absolutely perfect match with our lead mentor Max, has been crucial. He pointed out all the blind spots when we, infatuated with our idea, mostly saw gold and green forests. We got help with everything from realism and budgeting to competitor analysis,” says Per.
That Max had been an entrepreneur in the restaurant industry himself — and happened to be Italian — was a lucky break, considering the Mediterranean inspiration. Krinova’s Max Pattara remembers their first meeting:
“In came three young, creative entrepreneurs with great energy and a strong vision. They wanted to offer people the chance to enjoy the good things in life, without needing alcohol as fuel.”
Max is impressed by the strong and positive brand that Franka has built in such a short time. He also thinks the drinks are exceptionally tasty.
“They brought a lot of competence with them, but we at Krinova have still been able to support them in many ways. We connected them with the right producers, helped them build structure, and to create a clear value proposition,” says Max.
From Concept to Flavour
Product development, in close collaboration with beverage experts Balsgård Foodtech, took about 1.5 years, and in 2023, Franka Nordic Aperitif was launched. It’s a classic Mediterranean-style aperitif with a complex bitterness, paired with flavor notes from Nordic ingredients like lingonberries, juniper, and Scanian rhubarb.
“Everything has gone well — at a pace that has felt sustainable for us. The response from both consumers and professionals has been fantastic. This is a journey that takes time, and it feels meaningful to shape it with care and patience. We see Franka as something much bigger than a product and look forward to continuing to build that vision,” says Stephanie, who is especially happy that their business is so hands-on in these hyper-digital times.
“I love working with something that even my kids can understand,” she concludes.
About Krinova
Krinova’s incubator company Franka Drinks is just one of many examples of how Krinova supports innovative businesses on their journey – from idea to expansion. Through business development, networks, and funding opportunities, Krinova helps entrepreneurs grow and create sustainable solutions for the future.
Would you like to learn more about how we can support you and your business? Read more about Krinova’s incubator programme here.
