Founded in 2012 by Dorit and David Nahmias, Pace SBDC client Nahmias et Fils Distillery distills and distributes whiskey and Mahia, a brandy known as Morocco’s “national spirit.” Their products are now available at a range of wine and liquor stores as well as bars and restaurants throughout the NYC metro region and have been offered via tastings at their Yonkers distilling facility.

 

With COVID-19 forcing non-essential businesses to close, Nahmias et Fils experienced a 90% drop in sales almost overnight, and looked to retool their distillery to meet market demand for hand sanitizer. Once relevant permits were in place, the business converted the facility to produce hand sanitizer following formula specifications provided by the World Health Organization. 

 

Nahmias et Fils now donates their hand sanitizer products to first responders in their community and beyond, and has landed large wholesale orders through Stew Leonard's as well as from construction companies and medical offices. They also sell directly to consumers via their website including a free 16oz bottle of hand sanitizer with a $90 purchase of spirits.

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By embracing this new structure and the range of operational and accounting guidance from Pace University SBDC Business Advisor Sandra Cely, and combined with nearly $100,000 in financing support through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, Nahmias et Fils retained 4 jobs, while providing much-needed materials to assist with COVID-19 recovery.

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