Frozen cocktail entrepreneur in Forbes 30 under 30

An entrepreneur who founded a company selling frozen cocktails has been named in a prominent list of young high-flyers.

Grace Ubawuchi, who graduated with a degree in business and international relations from Aston University, is the founder of Xin and Voltaire.

She is named in the Forbes 30 under 30 Europe Art and Culture list for 2024, which highlights notable people in various industries who are under 30 years of age.

Ms Ubawuchi has also been previously recognised in the KPMG Black Entrepreneurs’ Awards, winning the title for most promising medium-sized business.

She completed her degree in 2020, and during a placement year in 2017 she first came up with the idea for her frozen cocktail company, the university said.

The company now sells four different flavours via its website and in 300 locations throughout the UK and Europe, including Mandarin Oriental UK, Selfridges and Soho House.

Two of the firm’s cocktails won bronze awards at the International Wine and Spirit Competition in 2023.

Freezing alcohol is notoriously difficult, according to the Forbes profile piece about Ms Ubawuchi, but she teamed up with Parisian pastry chef Nina Metayer to develop the food technology needed to accomplish the feat.

The Forbes’ Art and Culture list recognises young people who it credits with creating and designing the future of the fashion, food and the creative arts industries.

Candidates are evaluated by Forbes staff and a panel of independent, expert judges on a variety of factors, including funding, revenue, social impact, scale, inventiveness and potential.

Sharing the news of her inclusion in the Forbes list on her LinkedIn account, Ms Ubawuchi said: “I’m blessed to have incredible people be a part of my journey to help build the Xin and Voltaire brand and believe in my vision for the brand.

“I am but a product of the people who have poured into me and helped build the foundations of this business.”

A spokesperson for Aston University congratulated her as a shining example of the establishment’s spirit, and said they were delighted to see her go from strength to strength.

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