Business of Drinks

JW Wiseman of Curious Elixirs is a bonafide audience whisperer. After working as an early marketing hire at the media startup Thrillist, he went on to found a growth marketing firm. That experience unlocked the key audience expansion strategies he’s employed at his cult-y non-alcoholic RTD brand, Curious Elixirs. This is a brand you won’t find on store shelves. It’s nearly all DTC subscriptions, with a bit of prestige on-premise placements (like the Blue Note jazz club in NYC). Curious Elixirs was audience-driven from the get-go. JW launched the brand on Kickstarter — not because he needed the money, but rather as a smart tactic to grow community and demand around the product.  Since launching in 2015, the brand has been laser-focused on its subscription strategy and customer loyalty, and now serves millions of consumers a year.   The brand’s growth has been driven by word of mouth in sober curious communities, and by really effective targeting on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Yes, social channels are STILL performing very well for Curious Elixirs. So much so that the brand is up 40% in sales year over year. Want some tips from Curious Elixirs’ wildly successful playbook? In this episode, JW discusses: - How to grow — and sustain! — a community around your brand - Strategies for building word-of-mouth referral  - How to build a successful DTC subscription business in today’s marketp - Why video — and UGC content specifically — should be the backbone of your social strategy - Low-cost, IRL customer events and activations - Why customer loyalty is the No. 1 KPI you should pay attention to And more! Give a listen. About Erica Duecy, host: Erica Duecy is host of Business of Drinks, and one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies. She also has led digital editorial teams at Architectural Digest and Saveur magazines. Her content, podcast, and video programs have won more than 40 digital and editorial awards. She is a WSET Advanced-certified wine and spirits communicator, and author of the cocktail book Storied Sips (Random House), about the real-life stories behind the world’s most famous cocktails.  To learn more about Erica Duecy: https://www.instagram.com/ericaduecy/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-duecy-4a35844/

Cannabis drinks are showing substantial growth, and even displacing alcohol among younger consumers.  I got the scoop on how this emerging category is shaping up — and the legalities around THC-infused drinks — from Diana Eberlein, president of the Cannabis Beverage Association (CBA), a non-profit trade association established to represent and advocate on behalf of THC and CBD beverage brands. She’s also an expert in THC emulsification, as the VP of Marketing & Business Development at SōRSE Technology, a supplier of CBD, hemp, and terpene emulsions for food, beverage, and topical manufacturers. Diana walks us through the regulatory landscape of THC drink, as well as the lobbying efforts underway to expand access to these beverages.  As background: In the U.S., about half of Americans now live in a state where recreational cannabis is legal, and the market for cannabis is growing exponentially.  So who’s buying cannabis-infused drinks? It’s largely Millennials and Gen Zs, with older consumers mixed in. We know — from the 2023 Gallup poll — that younger consumers are not onboarding to alcohol like prior generations. And they see alcohol as unhealthy compared to cannabis — particularly Gen Zs. In fact, two in three 18- to 24-year-olds say they are somewhat or very concerned about the impact of drinking on their health, according to a July 2023 CivicScience survey of 5,545 respondents. Also, we know that marijuana use is displacing alcohol among younger audiences. From 2015 to 2022, the percent of US adults aged 18 to 25 who reported they had used any alcohol in the past month dropped by 8 percentage points to about 50% of those surveyed. Over the same time period, that group’s use of marijuana shot up by 6 percentage points, to about 25% of those surveyed, per the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.  It appears — looking at the data, and speaking with executives from cannabis drinks companies — that these consumers are not going sober. Rather, declines in alcohol are somewhat proportional to gains in cannabis use. In this episode, we cover: The appeal of cannabis-infused beverages for consumers looking to cut back on alcohol.   The difference between hemp-derived Delta 9 THC drinks and traditional cannabis. Where THC drinks are legal in states across the country (and where they’re available in bars and restaurants!). CBA’s 2024 education and lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill. The emulsion technology behind making fast-acting THC drinks. Predictions for the future of the cannabis drinks business (spoiler: big things are coming).  And that’s just the beginning. Give a listen for more.  About Erica Duecy, host: Erica Duecy is host of Business of Drinks, and one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies. She also has led digital editorial teams at Architectural Digest and Saveur magazines. Her content, podcast, and video programs have won more than 40 digital and editorial awards. She is a WSET Advanced-certified wine and spirits communicator, and author of the cocktail book Storied Sips (Random House), about the real-life stories behind the world’s most famous cocktails.    To learn more about Erica Duecy: https://www.instagram.com/ericaduecy/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-duecy-4a35844/

Are cannabis drinks on your radar?  If not, they probably should be. Right now, THC-infused beverages are just a sliver of the $15.8 billion cannabis category, but the segment has grown more than 40% since 2021, and keeps expanding. As the THC drinks segment grows, those dollars are going to be pulling from other categories — namely alcohol.  To learn more about this segment, I decided to bring on one of the most influential innovators in the cannabis drinks space, Jake Bullock. He’s co-founder and CEO of Cann. It’s a low-dose THC drinks brand that launched just 4 years ago, in 2019. And if you haven’t heard of it, you might be surprised to learn that it’s already doing some $36 million in sales, selling upwards of 9 million cans a year.  In this episode, Jake shares: - How he convinced skeptical dispensaries to take a chance on low-dose canned tonics when most of the competitors were formulated at 2x to 5x the THC dosage. - How Cann’s positioning as a “better-for-you” alternative to alcohol drove collaborations with celebrities and influencers, growing Cann’s audience quickly. - Where Cann is directly competing with alcohol in 30+ markets via DTC channels, and on liquor store shelves in Minnesota, Connecticut, and other states.  - How Cann funded its rapid growth to 9 million cans annually in just 4 years. - How beer distributors are making up for declines in their portfolios category by replacing open truck space with THC brands. - Who’s buying Cann (the audience breadth may surprise you!), and how the company reaches potential consumers. And that’s just the beginning. Give a listen for more. About Erica Duecy, host: Erica Duecy is host of Business of Drinks, and one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies. She also has led digital editorial teams at Architectural Digest and Saveur magazines. Her content, podcast, and video programs have won more than 40 digital and editorial awards. She is a WSET Advanced-certified wine and spirits communicator, and author of the cocktail book Storied Sips (Random House), about the real-life stories behind the world’s most famous cocktails.    To learn more about Erica Duecy: https://www.instagram.com/ericaduecy/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-duecy-4a35844/ https://twitter.com/ericaduecy

More than 70% of all wine produced in the world is what’s known as bulk wine, which means it’s shipped to its destination in Flexitanks. In this revealing episode, we speak to Florian Ceschi, the European Director of Ciatti, the world’s biggest bulk wine broker. He’s the man who knows what wine is being produced in the world, where it’s being shipped, who’s buying it — and what they’re doing with it. This episode will take you right into the engine room of the global wine business, exploring how the bulk wine market works, from vineyard to brand creation. His insights include: 1. Bulk wine is about one company selling to another. But why would one company sell their wine — and another buy it? Florian outlines all the reasons why wineries and other companies might want to buy a shipment or two of wine. 2. The role of the broker. The middleman plays a critical role in the world’s wine market, making sure that wine gets to market on time and in perfect condition. Sometimes it means the brokers need to make adjustments to the wine. 3. How the world of wine is driven by fashion. Aromatized wines, wine cocktails, and Moscato have all been recent wine fashions. Florian discusses how the market finds the supply they need at top speed — and what happens when varieties and styles fall out of fashion. 4. How private labels work. There are brands… and then there are private labels, which are brands created by retailers like supermarkets, who can switch products in and out as they need it. Florian discusses why businesses would go to all the trouble of finishing and bottling their own wines, instead of just buying them. 5. From appellations to anonymity. Wine is supposed to be about specific terroirs, but the allure of bulk wine is that it’s anonymous. How is this inherent tension resolved?  Join us for what turned out to be a fascinating journey into a critical part of the wine world that very few people know about. Shoutout to our sponsor! A big round of thanks to AccelPay — a leading ecommerce solution for bev-alc brands. From a one-tap, compliant checkout to comprehensive sales data, AccelPay has you covered and can make your existing website a storefront. For an exclusive 10% off your account, visit: https://www.accelpay.io/bod Meet the hosts Erica Duecy is co-founder of Business of Drinks, a podcast and content consultancy, and one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies.  https://www.instagram.com/ericaduecy/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-duecy-4a35844/ https://twitter.com/ericaduecy Felicity Carter is co-founder of Business of Drinks, a podcast and content consultancy. Also the Editorial Director of Areni Global, the London-based fine wine think tank, she was previously Editor-in-Chief of Meininger’s Wine Business International, a trade magazine she built into a global must-read, with subscribers in 38 countries.   https://twitter.com/felicitycarter https://www.linkedin.com/in/felicity-carter-a5754380/ https://www.instagram.com/carter.felicity/ And if you like what you heard, help us spread the word! Follow Business of Drinks, and rate and review our episodes on any platform where you’re listening. It helps us find new listeners. Thank you!

When Erica and Felicity walked past the Giesen stand at a 2023 wine fair, they knew they had to stop and find out why the guy pouring wine seemed so happy, when everyone else around him was gloomy about wine’s downturn. It turned out that Kyle Skene, the Group General Manager of New Zealand’s Giesen Group, has a lot to be optimistic about. When they found out why, they immediately invited him on the podcast.  Giesen is a major player in New Zealand wine, and the company has a culture of creativity and experimentation, which led to the creation of Giesen’s 0% wines, including Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé, a red blend, and others. With more than $10 million in sales annually of its non-alc wines, Giesen’s 0% has become the second-biggest non-alc wine brand in the U.S. behind Fré. What they learned was that by leaping into a new category, there were other market opportunities waiting to be tapped. In this episode, Kyle reveals what it takes to launch products into highly competitive markets, while retaining the market-leading position of existing products. TOP TAKEAWAYS 1. Research is key It’s not enough to read consumer survey data. Giesen relies on research, starting with their own sampling programs, and staying abreast of research from other consumer categories.  2. Be your own consumer Giesen developed its 0% non-alc product after employees took a company-wide fitness challenge and swore off alcohol for a month. It was a tough call for a wine company — so they decided to develop something to keep themselves on track. 3. Get everyone on board Many winemakers went into the profession because they love wine as a product, so suggesting they develop a non-alc product was a big ask. But getting people on board is critical. 4. Staying true to company values can spur innovation The technology that produces non-alc products has a sustainability problem, which meant using it undermined Giesen’s environmental values. In solving the problem, they saw the potential for new products. 5. Don’t forget the ‘winemaker family’ test Before launching any new products on the market, Giesen’s winemakers trial it on family and friends. If it doesn’t pass the test, it doesn’t go to market. Shoutout to our sponsor! A big round of thanks to AccelPay — a leading ecommerce solution for bev-alc brands. From a one-tap, compliant checkout to comprehensive sales data, AccelPay has you covered and can make your existing website a storefront. For an exclusive 10% off your account, visit: https://www.accelpay.io/bod Meet the hosts Erica Duecy is co-founder of Business of Drinks, a podcast and content consultancy, and one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies.  https://www.instagram.com/ericaduecy/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-duecy-4a35844/ https://twitter.com/ericaduecy Felicity Carter is co-founder of Business of Drinks, a podcast and content consultancy. Also the Editorial Director of Areni Global, the London-based fine wine think tank, she was previously Editor-in-Chief of Meininger’s Wine Business International, a trade magazine she built into a global must-read, with subscribers in 38 countries.   https://twitter.com/felicitycarter https://www.linkedin.com/in/felicity-carter-a5754380/ https://www.instagram.com/carter.felicity/ And if you like what you heard, help us spread the word! Follow Business of Drinks, and rate and review our episodes on any platform where you’re listening. It helps us find new listeners. Thank you!

Back in 2016, Ben Witte was stressed. He knew that he needed to calm down, and after the election upended the country, he figured everyone else needed to calm down too. That’s when he had his big insight: There were drinks for stimulation, like Red Bull, or drinks for intoxication, like cocktails, but there was nothing for relaxation. And so Recess, the drinks brand for people who want to slow down and take a break, was born. In this episode of Business of Drinks, he explains to hosts Erica Duecy and Felicity Carter how these social and psychological insights — coupled with his startup background — led to the development of a fast-growing “lifestyle” drinks brand with a host of product lines. Key takeaways: It’s about the feeling, not the ingredient Ben explains what the other drinks categories are offering consumers, and where he found his white space as a lifestyle brand. Adaptogens and CBD We discuss some of the regulatory problems of working with CBD, and Recess’ challenges of becoming the biggest CBD drinks company. Ben also defines adaptogens and talks about his philosophy of working with functional ingredients. Distribution and routes to market Ben walks us through how he grew Recess from DTC only to 14,000 retail doors. He shares insights on developing an omnichannel strategy, building an audience from scratch, and strategies for finding wider distribution when you’re a brand new category. How big is the market? We talk about market sizing, how to identify the white spaces, and nailing the value proposition, as Ben did to grow Recess to upwards of $10 million a year in sales. Harness the influencers Ben shares insights on creating a robust content strategy, getting your fans to spread the word, the power of organic marketing, and the flywheel effect that will make a brand fly off the shelf. Stay tuned for our next episode dropping on January 17.  Shoutout to our sponsor! A big round of thanks to AccelPay — a leading ecommerce solution for bev-alc brands. From a one-tap, compliant checkout to comprehensive sales data, AccelPay has you covered and can make your existing website a storefront. For an exclusive 10% off your account, visit: https://www.accelpay.io/bod Business of Drinks is more than a podcast — we’re also a strategic content consultancy for drinks brands and platforms. Learn more about us at Businessofdrinks.com Meet the hosts Erica Duecy is co-founder of Business of Drinks, a podcast and content consultancy, and one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies.  https://www.instagram.com/ericaduecy/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-duecy-4a35844/ https://twitter.com/ericaduecy Felicity Carter is co-founder of Business of Drinks, a podcast and content consultancy. Also the Editorial Director of Areni Global, the London-based fine wine think tank, she was previously Editor-in-Chief of Meininger’s Wine Business International, a trade magazine she built into a global must-read, with subscribers in 38 countries.   https://twitter.com/felicitycarter https://www.linkedin.com/in/felicity-carter-a5754380/ https://www.instagram.com/carter.felicity/ And if you like what you heard, help us spread the word! Follow Business of Drinks, and rate and review our episodes on any platform where you’re listening. It helps us find new listeners. Thank you!

When beverage startups are looking for advice before they launch their brands, Bryan Roth is the man they turn to. Bryan is a product and market analyst for Feel Goods Company and managing editor, news editor, and podcast host for its publication, Good Beer Hunting. Bryan has covered the beer industry as a reporter and analyst for more than a decade, and leverages that knowledge to help drinks brands develop innovative products. And, crucially for this conversation, he knows what’s trending in the market before anybody else. In this episode, he reveals who your real competitors are and how to beat them, plus why he’s betting big on Asian-inspired flavors and the next wave of better-for-you drinks — and what he thinks the next big RTD category will be. Top Takeaways Changing Trends in the Beverage Market We discuss the evolving nature of the beverage market from a traditional approach to a more seasonal and occasion-based market. Asian-Inspired Flavors Trend Brian discusses the emergence of Asian-inspired flavors as a significant trend in the market, indicating that this could be the next big thing for drink brands. Consumer Attitudes Toward Alcohol Consumption Contrary to concerns, there's some reassurance that younger consumers are not entirely abandoning alcohol. Two-thirds of college students still report drinking alcohol, aligning with historical trends. Flavor as Key to Winning Millennials and Gen Z Bryan emphasized that flavor is the key factor in attracting and retaining the Millennial and Gen Z audience — aligning with our own research on the topic. Understanding and delivering unique and appealing flavors is crucial for success. Breaking Boundaries Between Beverage Categories We’re all seeing a notable shift in consumer preferences, with the boundaries between different beverage categories breaking down. Consumers — especially younger ones — are more interested in amazing drinks, regardless of whether they are wine, spirits, or beer-based.  Functional Drinks and Wellness Trend We touched on the rise in functional drinks with a focus on wellness and health, discussing how the trend is paying out across beverage sectors. Tune in for a fascinating tour through tips, trends, and opportunities in the beverage space in 2024.  Shoutout to our sponsor! A big round of thanks to AccelPay — a leading ecommerce solution for bev-alc brands. From a one-tap, compliant checkout to comprehensive sales data, AccelPay has you covered and can make your existing website a storefront. For an exclusive 10% off your account, visit: https://www.accelpay.io/bod Business of Drinks is more than a podcast — we’re also a strategic content consultancy for drinks brands and platforms. Learn more about us at Businessofdrinks.com Meet the Hosts Erica Duecy is co-founder of Business of Drinks, a podcast and content consultancy, and one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies.  https://www.instagram.com/ericaduecy/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-duecy-4a35844/ https://twitter.com/ericaduecy Felicity Carter is co-founder of Business of Drinks, a podcast and content consultancy. Also the Editorial Director of Areni Global, the London-based fine wine think tank, she was previously Editor-in-Chief of Meininger’s Wine Business International, a trade magazine she built into a global must-read, with subscribers in 38 countries.   https://twitter.com/felicitycarter https://www.linkedin.com/in/felicity-carter-a5754380/ https://www.instagram.com/carter.felicity/ And if you like what you heard, help us spread the word! Follow Business of Drinks, and rate and review our episodes on any platform where you’re listening. It helps us find new listeners. Thank you!

Today’s guest is Shehryar Hussain, co-founder and CEO at AccelPay. If you’re unfamiliar with AccelPay, it’s an ecommerce platform specifically built for bev-alc brands. It handles everything from payments to fulfillment and customer support — so any brand can sell on their own website while being 3-tier compliant. Their goal is to make it easy to sell regulated products online, and enable new digital experiences for consumers.But before we get too far, a declaration of conflict of interest. AccelPay is Business of Drinks's very first sponsor.Just to be clear, though, this podcast was BOD’s idea. The more Felicity and Erica learned about AccelPay, the more they thought it was the kind of company we would feature in any case. Plus, it came highly recommended.Remember Hamlet Hound from Season 1? The Business of Drinks podcast kicked off way back in March this year, with the story of Christy Frank and her Hamlet Hound RTD, built around high-quality bourbon. BOD followed her journey from a tiny business in upstate New York through to getting wider distribution. She did it, in part, because she works with AccelPay, which allows her to sell in some 44 states, and she sang its praises to the BOD team.In this episode Shehryar reveals: How to use data to turn customers into true fans How to build customer relationships from your own website How to get sell in multiple states without a national distributor How small brands can test their brand ideas How to stay completely compliant, while offering great customer serviceAccelPay has been a game-changer for the beverage alcohol industry and it’s a service that all everyone in beverage alcohol from start-ups to established DTC brands need to know about. See below for their exclusive offer!Stay tuned for our next episode dropping on January 3.  Shoutout to our sponsor! A big round of thanks to AccelPay — a leading ecommerce solution for bev-alc brands. From a one-tap, compliant checkout to comprehensive sales data, AccelPay has you covered and can make your existing website a storefront. For an exclusive 10% off your account, visit: https://www.accelpay.io/bodBusiness of Drinks is more than a podcast — we’re also a strategic consultancy for drinks brands and platforms. Learn more about us at Businessofdrinks.comAbout Erica Duecy, host:Erica Duecy is co-founder of Business of Drinks, a podcast and brand consultancy, and one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies. She also has led digital editorial teams at Architectural Digest and Saveur magazines. Her content, podcast, and video programs have won more than 40 digital and editorial awards. To learn more about Erica Duecy:https://www.instagram.com/ericaduecy/https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-duecy-4a35844/https://twitter.com/ericaduecyAbout Felicity Carter, host:Felicity Carter is co-founder of Business of Drinks, a podcast and brand consultancy. Also the Editorial Director of Areni Global, the London-based fine wine think tank, she was previously Editor-in-Chief of Meininger’s Wine Business International, a trade magazine she built into a global must-read, with subscribers in 38 countries. She is a regular media commentator, appearing in media as diverse as CNN, France24 and the New York Times, and has consulted to New Zealand Wine and the Dutch government. To learn more about Felicity Carter:https://twitter.com/felicitycarterhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/felicity-carter-a5754380/https://www.instagram.com/carter.felicity/And if you like what you heard, help us spread the word! Follow Business of Drinks, and rate and review our episodes on any platform where you’re listening. It helps us find new listeners. Thank you!

When Sarah Hoffman had the idea to put premium wine into cans, she had no idea how revolutionary it was. But soon, she and her co-founders were convincing winemakers to trust them with their wines — and were kickstarting an entirely new category with their company, Maker Wine. In this episode of Business of Drinks, Sarah tells us how her background in digital marketing led her to launch the company, which makes high-quality, affordable wine available to everyone. Sarah explains how she learned to navigate the three-tier system, what she’s discovered about wine consumers, and how Maker scaled to 22,000 cases of wine, making more than $1 million in sales annually. Join Sarah, Erica and Felicity as they discuss who the new wine consumer is and what they’re looking for, how to reach them with Zoom and other digital channels, and how a group of outsiders navigated the complex world of wine, for fun and profit — and where there are still opportunities to be found. Key takeaways: How Maker raised $2.3 million in funding Early growth strategies to scale on a shoestring How data is informing Maker’s brand strategy Transitioning from DTC to omnichannel How Maker grew its quarterly Can Club to more than 2K subscribers The success of limited edition drops for Millennials  How to leverage influencer and UGC advertising Stay tuned for our next episode dropping on 12/27.  Shoutout to our sponsor! A big round of thanks to AccelPay — a leading ecommerce solution for bev-alc brands. From a one-tap, compliant checkout to comprehensive sales data, AccelPay has you covered and can make your existing website a storefront. For an exclusive 10% off your account, visit: https://www.accelpay.io/bod About Erica Duecy, host: Erica Duecy is co-founder of Business of Drinks, a podcast and content consultancy, and one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies. She also has led digital editorial teams at Architectural Digest and Saveur magazines. Her content, podcast, and video programs have won more than 40 digital and editorial awards. She is a WSET Advanced-certified wine and spirits communicator, and author of the cocktail book Storied Sips (Random House), about the real-life stories behind the world’s most famous cocktails.  To learn more about Erica Duecy: https://www.instagram.com/ericaduecy/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-duecy-4a35844/ https://twitter.com/ericaduecy   About Felicity Carter, host: Felicity Carter is co-founder of Business of Drinks, a podcast and content consultancy. Also the Editorial Director of Areni Global, the London-based fine wine think tank, she was previously Editor-in-Chief of Meininger’s Wine Business International, a trade magazine she built into a global must-read, with subscribers in 38 countries. She is a regular media commentator, appearing on platforms as diverse as CNN, France24 and the New York Times, and has consulted to New Zealand Wine and the Dutch government. Felicity is an international wine judge as well as a regular keynote speaker at the wine industry’s biggest conferences and events. Her work has appeared in The GuardianUS, The Sydney Morning Herald and numerous other publications.  To learn more about Felicity Carter:  https://twitter.com/felicitycarter https://www.linkedin.com/in/felicity-carter-a5754380/ https://www.instagram.com/carter.felicity/ And if you like what you heard, help us spread the word! Follow Business of Drinks, and rate and review our episodes on any platform where you’re listening. It helps us find new listeners. Thank you!

Remember the lockdowns? It was a time when too many people spent their time drinking too much. But Nick Bodkins’ wife was pregnant, so he gave up alcohol in solidarity. And, immediately, he confronted a problem that needed to be solved — non-alcoholic beverage options for adults who want something more sophisticated than a soda to drink. So he took the leap and created Boisson, a chain of non-alc stores with a DtC arm — and he’s secured more than $34 million in funding, including a recent $5 million investment from Pernod Ricard’s Convivialite Ventures. In this episode he tells us why the non-alc category is exploding; why non-alc creators need to think in terms of occasions, rather than flavors; and why the way forward is to build a “Sephora of drinks,” because this is a space where consumers are looking to get their problems solved, rather than looking for particular brands. Nick also discusses why bars and restaurants are crying out for these products. Above all, Nick says, follow the data. Boisson targets customers based on their browsing and purchasing behavior to drive sales and boost engagement.  As always, we follow the money and ask where the opportunities are in the dynamic non-alcohol space.  Brands mentioned in this episode: Proxies Studio Null Leitz Oceano Zero Pathfinder Ghia Three Spirit Aplos Wilfred’s  Heineken 0.0 Stay tuned for our next episode dropping on December 13.  Shoutout to our sponsor! A big round of thanks to AccelPay — a leading ecommerce solution for bev-alc brands. From a one-tap, compliant checkout to comprehensive sales data, AccelPay has you covered and can make your existing website a storefront. For an exclusive 10% off your account, visit: https://www.accelpay.io/bod Business of Drinks is more than a podcast — we’re also a strategic content consultancy for drinks brands and platforms. Learn more about us at Businessofdrinks.com About Erica Duecy, host: Erica Duecy is co-founder of Business of Drinks, a podcast and content consultancy, and one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies. She also has led digital editorial teams at Architectural Digest and Saveur magazines. Her content, podcast, and video programs have won more than 40 digital and editorial awards. She is a WSET Advanced-certified wine and spirits communicator, and author of the cocktail book Storied Sips (Random House), about the real-life stories behind the world’s most famous cocktails.  To learn more about Erica Duecy: https://www.instagram.com/ericaduecy/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-duecy-4a35844/ https://twitter.com/ericaduecy   About Felicity Carter, host: Felicity Carter is co-founder of Business of Drinks, a podcast and content consultancy. Also the Editorial Director of Areni Global, the London-based fine wine think tank, she was previously Editor-in-Chief of Meininger’s Wine Business International, a trade magazine she built into a global must-read, with subscribers in 38 countries. She is a regular media commentator, appearing on platforms as diverse as CNN, France24 and the New York Times, and has consulted to New Zealand Wine and the Dutch government. Felicity is an international wine judge as well as a regular keynote speaker at the wine industry’s biggest conferences and events. Her work has appeared in The GuardianUS, The Sydney Morning Herald and numerous other publications.  To learn more about Felicity Carter: https://twitter.com/felicitycarter https://www.linkedin.com/in/felicity-carter-a5754380/ https://www.instagram.com/carter.felicity/ And if you like what you heard, help us spread the word! Follow Business of Drinks, and rate and review our episodes on any platform where you’re listening. It helps us find new listeners. Thank you!