Bollygood CEO & Founder Maxine Henderson recently launched a new line of Indian-inspired sparkling beverages after noticing there was a void of Indian beverages available at both the local grocer and Indian grocery stores.
After spending the past few years staying at home to raise her kids, she noticed this gap while grocery shopping for her family, which was a sacred weekly ritual for Maxine. Before having kids, Maxine was a successful engineer who wanted to take the opportunity to be there for both the big and little moments in her family’s life. After a nearly 10 year hiatus, Maxine was itching to try her hand in the beverage arena, following her husband’s lead who entered the spirits space a few years before her. Feeling creative and inspired by her upbringing, having spent a significant amount of time with her children, and feeling the unwavering support of her husband, Maxine decided to take a leap of faith and launch Bollygood. Currently Bollygood is available in two delicious flavors: Lemon Ginger Mint & Lime Basil Cumin. Maxine hopes to expand Bollygood and see it in both national and international retailers and shared with us exclusively that she’ll be adding new flavors to her line as well! Check out our full interview below to learn more about Maxine and how her South Asian upbringing, from visits to India to eating traditional home-cooked Indian food inspired her entrepreneurial journey and inspired her to share a piece of her heritage with the world.
The Knockturnal: Can you tell me a little bit about how the South Asian diaspora has affected you and your outlook on life? Can you please also talk about what it was like growing up in a traditional South Indian family in Canada?
Maxine:
The Knockturnal: What are some desi snacks, drinks or just staples that you grew up on?
Maxine:
The Knockturnal: Obviously, I see how much you enjoy food and your culture. Would you consider yourself a foodie? Have you always had this passion for food and drinks?
Maxine:
The Knockturnal: As an engineer by trade, what inspired you to make that pivot to beverages?
Maxine:
The Knockturnal: You touched on this a little earlier, but would you say your husband entering the spirits arena before you launched Bollygood influenced or impact your decision to launch your own beverage line?
Maxine:
The Knockturnal: Is it fun getting to work with your partner on something that started out as a passion project then transformed into a full-blown business?
Maxine
The Knockturnal: Can you talk about the inspiration behind the can design?
The Knockturnal: Are you interested in adding new flavors down the line?
Maxine
The Knockturnal: What piece of advice can you offer new entrepreneurs?
Maxine: