Benalla’s Svetlana Sovacki might be the Rose City’s youngest entrepreneur.
At 21 years of age, she is managing and operating the town’s newest coffee-shop and takeaway.
Located at 189 Bridge St East, next door to the Transmission Specialist, her focus on homemade food, sustainability and great drinks has seen Double Shot Coffee and Takeaway gain a dedicated and loyal customer base.
When her dad offered to help her get started in business, for her 21st, she jumped at the chance.
With early morning starts and late finishes, Ms Sovacki has been laser focused on making the business a success.
“It’s been a bit nerve-racking, and takes a lot of sacrifice,” Ms Sovacki said.
“Quite often my friends will want to go out and party, but I can’t as I need to be up early to open.”
On top of that, the majority of the food she sells is homemade.
“We try to offer a little bit of everything and I make as much as I can,” she said.
“I make all the pizza bases, the pizza sauce, the cinnamon rolls and the Biscoff Tiramasu.
“I’ve tried to be a bit different to other businesses in Benalla.
“We do deluxe pizzas, which are popular at lunchtime, and loaded pizza toasties.
“We have Frappuccinos, thick shakes and milkshakes.”
Ms Sovacki said it’s been very humbling to see the homemade products in particular selling out.
“People come and ask for things, and I have to apologise and say we’ll have some more in tomorrow.”
Ms Sovacki said she is about to have a reverse-osmosis 24-hour ice vending machine installed.
“Our coffee and all our homemade products will be reverse-osmosis filtered as well,” she said.
“The way that works is that the water goes through a three-sediment filtration system which takes out all the fluoride, chloride and any contaminates.
“So it’s fresh, clean and natural tasting.
“We also have home-compostable packaging, which is sustainable and good for the environment.
“All our coffee cups and lids break down within 24 weeks.”
Double Shot Coffee and Takeaway is open seven days a week from 6.30am to 2pm.