On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Medianews4u.com caught up with Suzann Homan Founder-Director, Kantala Spirits.
Suzann Homan doesn’t fit into a single professional box and that’s exactly what makes her story compelling. A corporate lawyer by profession and an entrepreneur by instinct, she brings together structure, creativity, and passion in everything she builds. She firmly believes that you don’t need to separate heart from business.
A Bandra girl at heart, or as locals would say, a ‘Bomoicar’ (a Bombay Goan) – Suzann is the Founder-Director of Kantala Spirits and the force who brought together the founding team to shape the company’s vision. Her journey into the world of spirits was driven not by industry convention, but by personal curiosity and a genuine love for fine drinking experiences.
A self-described connoisseur of fine drinking, Suzann played a key role in developing Kantala Spirits’ flagship brand, Gracia Viva Agave, India’s first flavoured agave/tequila drink, along with its zero-alcohol counterpart, Gracia Cero, the country’s first flavoured zero-ABV agave drink. Her philosophy resists excess—favouring balance, moderation, and mindful indulgence, values that are increasingly relevant to modern consumers.
Beyond boardrooms and business strategy, Suzann leads a life rooted in craft and community. During the pandemic, she co-founded TwoBandraGirls, an organic farm in Maharashtra, (documented in a book Two Bandra Girls Buy a Farm published by Westland Books), that promotes pesticide-free farming while creating employment opportunities for local villagers. The initiative reflects her belief in mindful living and responsible growth, values that extend across her professional ventures.
Her entrepreneurial spirit also finds expression in hospitality. Suzann owns Sivako, an upmarket patisserie in Mumbai, blending her interest in artisanal baking with a refined culinary sensibility.
Health and discipline remain central to her lifestyle. Deeply conscious about wellness, she follows a mindful routine, observing a vegetarian and alcohol-free diet for four months each year, while practicing moderation through the rest of the year.
A self-proclaimed “gym-girlie” with a strong interest in sports, she also spearheaded Gracia Cero’s association as co-sponsor of the Bengaluru Blazers Pro Pickleball team, marking the beginning of the brand’s growing engagement with sports culture.
With plans to further expand these associations, Suzann continues to shape Kantala Spirits through a balance of creativity, discipline, and personal passion, building brands that reflect evolving lifestyles while staying rooted in authenticity.
Q. What were the challenges faced in forming an alcohol brand?
For me, the challenge was never just about launching a product—it was about taking something deeply personal into the public domain without losing its soul. Gracia began as her mother Grace Fernandes’ small-batch infused agave ritual, shared only among family and friends.
Transforming that into a commercial brand required careful refinement—adapting flavours for a wider Indian palate while staying true to the original infusion philosophy. I approached this transition with emotional authenticity paired with professional rigour, bringing a lawyer’s precision to structure and compliance, while allowing heritage and instinct to guide creativity.
The core challenge was balance: scale without dilution, growth without excess, and innovation without compromising honesty to origin.
Q. Is the women consumer base for fine drinking growing? What trends are expected in 2026?
My philosophy reflects a broader cultural shift toward balance, moderation, and mindful indulgence. Increasingly, women are participating in fine drinking experiences not as a niche audience but as informed, intentional consumers.
Looking ahead, trends are expected to lean toward:
- Flavour-forward, craft-led spirits
- Lower-ABV and zero-ABV options
- Experiences rooted in authenticity rather than excess
- Brands that align with wellness-conscious lifestyles
The rise of Gracia Cero signals that celebration today is as much about choice as it is about consumption.
Q. Do the marketing tactics adopted by Kantala Spirits differ for women compared with men?
Kantala Spirits does not subscribe to gendered marketing in a superficial sense. I prioritise alignment over speed and meaning over noise.
The brand focusses on storytelling, flavour memory, craftsmanship, and mindful celebration—values that resonate across audiences. Rather than segmenting by gender stereotypes, the brand speaks to consumers who value authenticity, moderation, and intentional experiences.
Q. What activities will it be doing to target women on Women’s Day and beyond?
My philosophy suggests that meaningful engagement with women cannot be limited to a calendar moment. The brand’s broader commitment lies in creating inclusive spaces of celebration and mindful choice.
Through storytelling, community-building, and partnerships that reflect discipline and balance—such as its engagement with sport—Kantala Spirits aligns itself with modern women’s evolving lifestyles year-round, rather than through symbolic one-day gestures.
Q. What do alcohol brands get wrong when they market to women?
Often, brands oversimplify women consumers—reducing them to aesthetic cues or trend-driven narratives.
My approach resists this. Women are discerning, flavour-aware, and experience-driven consumers. Marketing that lacks authenticity, depth, or respect for their intelligence risks feeling performative. For.me, honesty—to origin and to the consumer—is non-negotiable.
Q. Is the zero-alcohol segment a huge whitespace for growth when you target women?
The zero-ABV segment represents more than a trend; it reflects evolving lifestyle choices. Gracia Cero was created to expand the idea of celebration to include mindful choice.
Rather than positioning zero-alcohol as a compromise, I position it as an equally considered experience—flavour-forward, intentional, and socially inclusive. This aligns strongly with wellness-conscious consumers, including many women who seek balance rather than abstention or excess.
Q. Do satisfied female consumers become influencers?
When consumers feel emotionally connected to a brand’s story, they naturally become advocates. Because Gracia is rooted in authentic storytelling and shared ritual, it invites participation rather than passive consumption.
Women who resonate with its philosophy of mindful indulgence and flavour-forward experiences often become organic ambassadors—not through campaigns, but through genuine affinity.
Q. How did Gracia Cero’s association with the Bengaluru Blazers Pro Pickleball team come about and are women an important TG?
Gracia Cero’s association as co-sponsor of the Bengaluru Blazers reflects Suzann’s personal interest in sports and disciplined living. A self-proclaimed “gym-girlie,” I see sport as a natural extension of the brand’s values—balance, vitality, and mindful celebration.
Women are an important target group—not as a niche, but as active participants in sports culture and wellness communities. The association signals that celebration and performance can coexist with mindful consumption.
Q. Could you shed light on plans to expand the brand’s presence across sporting platforms?
With the Bengaluru Blazers partnership marking the beginning of Gracia Cero’s engagement with sports culture, plans include expanding associations that align with the brand’s philosophy of discipline, moderation, and lifestyle balance.
Rather than pursuing visibility for its own sake, Kantala Spirits seeks partnerships that feel authentic and value-driven.
Q. Sivako focuses on artisanal baking. What trends are being seen in women entrepreneurship in the baking and food industry? Is baking a more natural entrepreneurship endeavour for women compared to men?
Sivako blends artisanal craft with refined culinary sensibility.
The broader trend in women entrepreneurship within food and baking reflects a movement toward craft-led, story-driven brands rooted in authenticity. However, my own journey suggests entrepreneurship is not about gendered inclination—it is about instinct, discipline, and vision.
Baking is not “more natural” for women; rather, women today are confidently turning personal passions into structured, scalable ventures without separating heart from business.
Q. What impact is TwoBandraGirls looking to have on pesticide-free farming while generating employment for local female villagers?
TwoBandraGirls was co-founded during the pandemic as an organic farm promoting pesticide-free farming in Maharashtra.
Its impact is twofold:
- Encouraging mindful, responsible agricultural practices
- Creating employment opportunities for local villagers, including women
The initiative reflects Suzann’s belief in responsible growth—ensuring that entrepreneurship uplifts communities while staying rooted in conscious living.
