Charlie's signs Woolworths deal

Stefan Lepionka says Charlie's deal with Woolworths will make its Australian business 'bigger than New Zealand for us'. Photo / Supplied

Charlie's juice will be sold at Woolworths stores across Australia from August, it was announced yesterday.

Charlie's products have been stocked at supermarket chain Coles since November.

Charlie's group chief executive Stefan Lepionka said the Australian beverage market was strong and "hungry for innovation".

"We now have a very big foot in the Australian market and this latest deal will undoubtedly make our Australian business bigger than New Zealand for us," Lepionka said.

The founding shareholders, Lepionka, Marc Ellis and Simon Neal, made $2.75 million when they sold down a portion of their shares last November.

Lepionka, Ellis and Neal sold at 18c per share, which was close to the price shares were trading at in November, 19.3c. Ellis pocketed more than $1 million from selling his shares.

Lepionka said, at the time, the decision to sell the shares had not been made lightly, but added the founders' financial and personal responsibilities had changed since the company started 11 years ago.

A statement to the Stock Exchange said the shares were sold to institutional and private investors.

The company floated in 2005, it operates in New Zealand and Australia and exports to Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East and India. Charlie's shares closed up 4c yesterday at 26c.