The Next Round: What happens after you change your drinking?
The Next Round: What happens after you change your drinking?
Shilen is co-founder at Drinks Sherpa. He has 25+ years of experience at successfully disrupting the drinks industry.
The first third of his career was spent inside large corporates disrupting from within across strategy, M&A, marketing and innovation.
The second third was spent as a serial entrepreneur across food and drinks, technology, fashion, e-commerce and innovation agencies.
In the final third, he was co-founder at Distill Ventures – the world’s first dedicated accelerator for drinks startups. Over 8 years he built and led a dedicated NoLo specialist practise with a successful portfolio of rapid growth, disruptive NoLo brands.
The first of these was Seedlip, where he mentored Ben Branson and his team on strategy, growth model, team and investment which eventually led to Seedlip being acquired by Diageo. Along the way he acquired a deep understanding of the entire global NoLo category and developed unique insights leading to a playbook for success across NoLo spirits, beer and wine.
Kate is a category and shopper expert. During her five years at Diageo, Kate was a key driver of the success of the Alcohol-free growth in GB. She has been instrumental in championing the Alcohol-free agenda and her efforts have notably improved Alcohol-Free point of purchase visibility. Kate was a key leader of the team that won the Waitrose Best Supplier Category Initiative for the work on Alcohol Free fixturisation which launched in August 2023. This initiative proved the tipping point for other grocers and on trade customers to adopt Alcohol-free category principles.
Kate is currently exploring career offers and options, but is open to discussing fresh ideas and opportunities.
Millie Gooch is the founder of the Sober Girl Society and one of the voices leading the UK’s sobriety movement. Her first book, The Sober Girl Society Handbook was described as “an empowering survival guide” by the Evening Standard and led to her appointment as a proud ambassador for Alcohol Change UK. Millie’s authority documenting her sobriety journey has led to partnerships with a multitude of global brands including Tinder, Anthropologie, Microsoft Windows and Boots. She’s also delivered employee workshops for the likes of ASOS, Charlotte Tilbury and the Ministry of Justice.
Founding Partner of Pollen Projects & CEO seasn cocktail bitters. Emma is a distinguished leader in the drinks industry, known for her instrumental role in shaping and scaling innovative brands. As a key figure at Pollen Projects, Emma leverages her extensive experience to drive the development of cutting-edge products in the alcohol-free sector. Prior to this, she served as the Managing Director at Seedlip, where she played a pivotal role in establishing the world’s first distilled non-alcoholic spirit as a global phenomenon. With a career marked by a passion for redefining consumer experiences, Emma has consistently championed brands that challenge industry norms and cater to evolving consumer preferences.
Ben Branson is an inventor, entrepreneur and naturalist. In 2015 he founded Seedlip, the world’s first & world’s no.1 distilled non-alcoholic spirits brand. An invention he successfully took from his kitchen to 35 countries and the world’s best bars, restaurants, hotels and retailers in less than 4 years before selling a majority stake to the world’s biggest premium spirits company Diageo.
With an industry respected branding and design guru father and 320 years of farming on his mother’s side Ben spent his career in the design industry working with brands like Nike, Moet & Chandon, Innocent, Farrow & Ball.
In 2013 Ben was researching more ingredients to grow at home which led him to a book of herbal remedies “The Art of Distillation” – published in 1651. He began experimenting with a small copper still and herbs from his garden and over 2 years the opportunity to solve the dilemma of ‘what do you drink when you’re not drinking alcohol’ was revealed. Almost as if his life’s path had led him to this point, Ben married his family’s farming heritage and branding prowess to create Seedlip and a new category now worth over $1bn.
Aaron is a specialist intellectual property solicitor and partner in J A Kemp’s Trade Marks & Designs Group. He has a very international outlook being qualified to practice law in the UK, Ireland, Canada and Australia. His practice involves all things related to trade marks and brand protection, as well as dealing with domain name and other internet-related issues, and both domestic and international IP disputes. Aaron has spearheaded worldwide trade mark clearance projects for both brand owners and creative agencies, helping with risk-management and positioning brands for growth from early stages, managing legal budgets big and small. He will be available for one-to-one discussions on IP strategy.
MANAGING DIRECTOR – REST OF WORLD – DISTILL VENTURES
Gareth oversees day-to-day operations for the London-based Distill Ventures team, guiding key organisational strategies to maintain their competitive edge as an industry leader. Leveraging his commercial acumen honed at organisations like Chapel Down, Red Bull and BrewDog, he works closely with founders to hone their leadership capabilities for greater success. Gareth also elevates DV’s portfolio through strategic profiling with industry stakeholders.
Karen is Drinkaware’s Chief Executive Officer and joined the organisation in October 2022.
Karen brings over 20 years of experience across health and social care, most recently in the national alcohol and drug treatment charity Humankind where she was Executive Director of Strategy, Culture and External Affairs.
Prior to Humankind Karen worked at Addaction (now called With You), a charity that gives free confidential support to people with drugs, alcohol and mental health issues.
Karen is also Vice Chair of Trustees at the Avalon Group, a social care charity.
Karen is a collaborative leader, with expertise in strategy and communications. She has spent time working in business development and started her career as a volunteer.
Paul is currently the Head of Drinks Category Management within Heineken’s Star Pubs division, having spent the last 17 years in various commercial buying and retail roles within the UK On-Trade. Paul spent 10 years working within Greene King’s Managed Pubs division, including roles such as Spirits Buyer and Category Manager for Non-Alcohol, before joining Enotria & Coe in the role of Spirits Category Manager. He joined Heineken UK in 2018 as their Category Buying Manager for Soft Drinks, followed by Cask Ale, and now leads the Drinks Category Management Team, helping to drive the success of all drinks categories, including no and low, for Heineken’s L&T and Free Trade customer base.
Brendan Williams is the CEO & co-founder of Paradoxx Drinks Ltd. which makes NuWave, a mood enhancing, alcohol-free beer.
He has more than 20 years of experience in the drinks industry gained with Carlsberg, Asahi, SABMiller, Coca-Cola and Fosters Group.
Within the last 10 years Brendan has held senior global (Carlsberg), regional (SABMiller) and national (Asahi) marketing leadership positions.
Brendan most recently led The Free Consultancy, an alcohol-free marketing consultancy. He was the Managing Director of Sentia mood-enhancing AF spirits, a TFC client in 2022/23. Brendan’s last corporate role was as the Global Marketing Director of Alcohol Free for Carlsberg where he developed the highly successful global alcohol-free strategy & coordinated the winning execution in 40+ markets around the world.
Chris has been a writer, journalist, author and magazine editor in the world of drinks for over 25 years. Two years ago, he teamed up with AF expert Chrissie Parkinson to set up the World Alcohol-Free Awards – the only competition dedicated to drinks at 0.5% abv or below.
Zara Cassidy is a prominent figure in the wine industry, known for her expertise and leadership at Majestic Wines. With a deep passion for wine and a keen understanding of consumer trends, Zara has played a crucial role in driving the success of one of the UK’s leading wine retailers. Zara is judge for IWSC.
Ellie is ‘The Joyful Drinker’ and creator and founder of Caleño, a range of tropical non-alcoholic spirits. On a night out dancing a couple of years ago, she became frustrated with the lack of adventurous non-alcoholic options. After talking with friends, she realised there was an opportunity to make those options more joyful. She flew to Colombia where she visited family and was inspired by the vibrant, colourful culture, and tropical flavours. Two months after launching, Ellie landed a listing with major UK retailer, Sainsbury’s. Caleño is stocked in Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, ASDA and Ocado as well as thousands of restaurants and bars around the UK.
Geordie Hadden-Paton, CFA, is a seasoned investment professional at Rianta Capital, the family office of Tom Singh, the founder of New Look. Since joining in 2021, Geordie has been responsible for managing the consumer-focused venture portfolio. Rianta’s portfolio includes over 75 investments, with a significant focus on the F&B sector, particularly in the no & low alcohol category, featuring investments in companies like Lucky Saint (UK), Pentire (UK), and Boisson (US). Geordie has also spearheaded investments in Something and Nothing, El Rayo, and Grounded, and he represents Rianta on the boards of these companies. With a robust background in financial analysis and portfolio management, Geordie leverages his extensive expertise and network to identify new opportunities, manage existing investments, and optimize returns across the portfolio.
Jo is the eCommerce and retail manager for Everleaf drinks. She has 20 years of experience in FMCG across several categories, channels and customers. She’s been with Everleaf for the last 2 years leading the growth of their DTC, Amazon, premium retail and most recently the Ocado business.
Zoe Riccio – Director of Global Quality Assurance & Compliance at Athletic Brewing Company. Zoe is a Certified Food Scientist with a Master’s Degree in Food Safety. She has experience in nearly every facet of the food industry including regulation. At Athletic, she leads incredible teams that ensure the quality, safety, and compliance of all products from raw materials sourcing to advertising and everything in between.
Lucy has been writing about the drinks industry for 19 years. She holds her WSET diploma in wine and spirits – and a 1st class degree in journalism.
She is editor of UK trade mag Drinks Retailing and before that, she was deputy editor of international drinks trade website just-drinks.com. She was made a Keeper of the Quaich in 2019.
Lucy’s work has appeared in most of the drinks trade titles, as well as Decanter, Square Meal and Master of Malt. Before turning her attention to the off-trade, Lucy was instrumental in the creation of World’s 50 Best Bars and its voting academy.
The Vegan Society continues to hold true to the vision of our founding members as we work towards a world in which humans do not exploit other animals. We’re as determined as ever to promote vegan lifestyles for the benefit of animals, people and the environment.
Prior to joining The Vegan Society in 2020 as Head of Business Development and then Head of Commercial Services, Hamon, who hails from Guernsey and trained as an engineer in the Royal Air Force, spent 20 years in senior positions in the Testing Inspection & Certification (TIC) Industry, including BSI and Intertek PLC.
During his time at the society, has helped secure over 12 new partnership deals, overseen the society reaching the Vegan Trademark registration of its 70,000th product, the growth of its supplement, VEG1.
An experienced social researcher with a record of applying behavioural science to policy problems, and running and designing robust randomised controlled trials.
Annabelle joined Drinkaware in 2020 and leads our research team.
She is an experienced social researcher with a track record of applying behavioural science to policy problems; and of running and designing robust randomised controlled trials.
She joins Drinkaware from Ofgem, where she led ground breaking trials to uncover what works in increasing engagement in the domestic energy market, and was part of a team awarded the 2019 Behavioural Exchange Award for Outstanding Research.
Before then, she worked in the Department of Health’s Behavioural Insight Team, focussing on robust evaluations of innovative ways to improve health outcomes, including increasing attendance at NHS Health Checks, which won the UK Government’s annual Social Research Award in 2014.
Sam Millard is the Head of Innovation at Beavertown Brewery, where he is in charge of creating and developing the next generation of groundbreaking beers. With a strong background in product development and a deep passion for brewing, Sam plays a pivotal role in pushing the boundaries of craft beer, ensuring Beavertown remains at the forefront of the industry.
David founded The REAL Drinks Co. in 2016 to create high-quality non-alcoholic beverages. After two years of development, REAL launched a series of non-alcoholic sparklings that gained a following among top sommeliers in the UK and Europe and is now a leading brand in the no&lo sector. Following his success, David has expanded his focus to include the broader non-alc drinks category, working with partners to develop a range of fermented drinks.
A manufacturing engineer by training, David spent ten years in strategy consulting, primarily with Bain & Co. He has been part of the founding team of disruptive start-ups like Active Hotels, Tom Dixon, Mindshapes, and Clippings.com but his passion for food, growing, regenerative food systems and sustainable health inspired his move into drinks.
Edgebold DMCC based in UAE, owns a number of businesses in Sub Saharan Africa www.edgebold.com He is also the founder of Freed From Limited in the UK and Freed From S.L in Spain. The team at Freed From has decided to start the company’s journey by offering a world-class range of non-alcoholic drinks in the United Kingdom and Europe
Imme is co-founder of Botivo, a Big-sipping Botanical Aperitivo celebrated by chefs, sommeliers and foodies alike. Botivo launched just over 2 years ago but prior to this Imme worked in brand building and strategy for 18 years for some of the biggest brands in the world from Nike, Grey Goose, Makers Mark through to Heineken and MTV.
Emma joined Beringea in February 2016 and is responsible for investment sourcing, industry research, deal execution and portfolio management. Emma led Beringea’s investments in Plank Hardware and Lucky Saint, and she has played a key role in our work with Papier, EDITED, Luxury Promise, and Dealroom. Emma has worked in Zurich and Kenya and holds a degree in International Business and Management from Aston Business School.
Susie Goldspink is the Head of Low and No Alcohol at IWSR, a leading authority on global beverage alcohol data and trends. With extensive experience in market research and a deep understanding of consumer behavior, Susie is at the forefront of the rapidly growing low and no-alcohol sector. Her work involves analyzing market trends, consumer preferences, and industry innovations, providing strategic insights that help shape the future of this dynamic category. Susie is passionate about the evolving landscape of mindful drinking and is committed to driving forward the industry’s understanding of this burgeoning market.
For years, those abstaining from alcohol were forced to drink sub-par alternatives. We wanted to change that. Founded by brothers Roddy and Kerr Nicoll, Spirits of Virtue began in a garage six years ago and has since grown into an international exporter of premium non-alcoholic beverages.
Chris is CEO Food and Drink North East. UK Head of Food and Drink at Santander
Zoe Burgess is a tastemaker and founder of one of London’s leading flavour consultancies, Atelier Pip. Her acclaimed cocktail book ‘The Cocktail Cabinet: The art, science and pleasure of mixing the perfect drink’, was published by Octopus books in 2022 (see here), and was nominated for best new cocktail book at Tales of The Cocktail 2023 awards.
She is also lead beverage consultant at London’s iconic The Standard Hotel, overseeing their cocktail offering across the site’s five venues. Including the 10th floor cocktail bar, Sweeties, famed for its incredible Atelier Pip-designed menu, which launched to critical acclaim in January 2023.
An expert at crafting flavours that can connect with people, and communicate the essence of a brand, Zoe has worked internationally across the world of food and drink, partnering with Michelin starred chefs, hospitality groups such as Artfarm and even some of the world’s most respected sensory scientists, such as Oxford University’s Charles Spence.
‘My work isn’t about just designing a drink, or a menu, it’s about weaving together a mix of ingredients, which will evolve to mean so much more than their stylish name or thoughtful glassware. These flavours begin to tell the stories of the brands they represent – celebrating the people, places and cultural moments that are meaningful to them.’
Christof Tremp is the co-founder and CEO of Rebels 0.0%, a startup crafting alcohol-free spirits. With an MA in Business Administration from HSG and experience at Kraft Foods, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, and Lindt & Sprüngli. Through their “Cheers Revolution”, Rebels 0.0% is challenging social drinking norms by offering sophisticated alternatives to gin, rum, whiskey, and aperitifs. Rebels 0.0% taps into the growing trend of reduced alcohol consumption, especially among younger generations, while positioning itself as a choice rather than an anti-alcohol stance.
Their spirits, produced in Switzerland using double distillation and organic botanicals, closely mimic traditional flavors. Committed to sustainability and ethical standards, Rebels 0.0% maintains a complex production process, resulting in a premium product.
Rob has +25 years’ experience in building Food & Beverage brands internationally. After starting his career at United Biscuits, he spent 12 years at Diageo across US, Latin America and Nigeria before returning to the UK and joining Asahi’s EMEA & Americas business. Currently serving as the Marketing Director for Asahi UK, Rob has a strong track record of leading both global and local brands, with consumer bases ranging from the emerging middle class to the world of luxury. His current portfolio includes Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% and Asahi Super Dry 0.0%.
Guy is Head of Public Affairs and Responsibility for HEINEKEN UK where he’s worked for the last seven years. He looks after the responsible drinking part of HEINEKEN’s Brew a Better World strategy in the UK, and their responsible drinking partnerships with Huddersfield Town and Drinkaware.
Prior to joining HEINEKEN, Guy spent twenty years working in corporate affairs teams in FMCG retail along with a short spell in retail banking looking after values and ethics. He also spent ten years as a Director of the Morrisons grant giving Foundation.
Chris is a recovering management consultant and technology exec who has worked in startups and digital transformation way too long. This includes working inside lots of large companies in banking, finance, insurance and media.
He’s exited and is involved in several ventures in the web content, original programming and creative production industries that are revolutionizing content and entertainment in the digital age.
Better Rhodes is the culmination of many personal and professional elements for Chris and he’s extremely excited about the possibilities for AF and adult premium beverages.
Blake has worked in research & insights for 20 years. He started his career at Kantar before joining Lumina Intelligence in 2009. Blake has worked across all areas of research and insights and has led the development of new products, content and marketing. He joined KAM, as a partner, in 2018 to drive forward their expertise in delivering market-leading research and insight-led products.
Joanna Dring has 15 years experience in the drinks industry. She is Head of Media for HEINEKEN UK and has recently celebrated ten years at the UK’s leading cider, beer and pub company. Prior to this, she has worked at other international brewers and local government. Passionate about driving the low/no category, she led the groundbreaking partnership with ITV, which saw Heineken 0.0 on draught in the two most famous pubs in the world, The Rovers Return and The Woolpack. In her spare time, you’ll find her walking her dogs in the Bedfordshire countryside.
Nick is Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Boisson, a consumer ecommerce and import/wholesale distribution platform for emerging non-alcoholic and functional beverages.
Policy Manager – Product Assurance & Supply Chain at the BBPA
Steve joined the BBPA in 2010 and his remit encompasses the many technical issues that are associated with the brewery supply chain, from grain to glass, including; brewery asset management, food safety for pubs and breweries, product quality and assurance and product labelling.
He is a qualified industrial microbiologist with extensive commercial and scientific experience within the brewing industry. Prior to the BBPA, Stephen has worked at Young and Co’s Brewery in London and Campden BRI, where he was involved in both academic and commercial research projects as well as undertaking consultancy and troubleshooting issues relating to brewery production and product quality, beer dispense hygiene and new product development. Before joining the Association, Stephen held the post of Head of the Brewing Services Department of Campden BRI.
Hamilton’s career started in marketing, working at agencies IMG and then BBH London on brands such as Johnnie Walker, Adidas and Rubicon. At 28 he started his own drinks brand; Yaguara Cachaça, which was awarded the world’s leading trending cachaça in 2021 and 2022 by Drinks International and available in over 30 countries. Having exited operations after a successful merger, he and his team have gone on to create an exciting new brand coming into the Non Alc space – Smiling Wolf Functional Spirits.
Mark Wong founded IMPOSSIBREW, a functional non-alcoholic beer brand, now ranked as one of the top 30 UK companies at Startups 100. He appeared on BBC hit show Dragons’ Den in 2022 and was praised by Touker Suleyman as “The Most Credible 24 Year Old (to ever walk through Den’s doors)”. He was awarded the GB Food & Drink Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 and is a finalist for GB Young Entrepreneur 2024. Educated at Durham University.
Rob Fink is the founder and CEO of Big Drop Brewing Co., a pioneering brand in the alcohol-free beer industry. Driven by a desire to create high-quality, full-flavoured beers that everyone can enjoy, Rob launched Big Drop in 2016, transforming the non-alcoholic beer market with his innovative approach. Under his leadership, Big Drop has become a global leader in alcohol-free craft beer, celebrated for its diverse range of styles and exceptional taste. Rob’s commitment to quality, creativity, and inclusivity has made Big Drop a favorite among mindful drinkers and a standout in the ever-evolving world of craft brewing.
Melanie Masarin is the founder of Ghia, a non-alcoholic aperitif designed to change the way we think about drinking and socializing. Ghia was inspired by the summers enjoyed with her family in the South of France near the Mediterranean – moments spent entertaining friends, cooking together, and having conversations that lasted until dawn. Ghia is meant to create an aperitivo hour that, like those childhood memories, invites everyone to the table and transports you to a place of simple pleasures and connection (without numbing the night). Since its launch, Ghia has been praised by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Vogue, and many others.
Matt Lambert is the Chief Executive Officer of the Portman Group.
Matt joined the Portman Group as CEO in January 2021. Responsible for providing strategic leadership and developing the organisation’s membership, Matt uses his extensive experience in national and international management and corporate affairs to champion the Portman Group, and to build on its reputation as a strong and independent regulator and a powerful and persuasive voice for alcohol social responsibility.
Prior to joining the Portman Group, Matt held senior roles in corporate affairs, including with Microsoft and Betfair, and is a former CEO of the Federation for Industry Sector, Skills and Standards.
Co-founder, entrepreneur, and mum of two, Tati is the bar-loving, party-going people person that makes it all come together at Three Spirit HQ. Need a recommendation, there’s not a bar or restaurant she’s not been to or knows about. Her brain never stops and she never stops, except if it’s to hear a story or help someone out. The ultimate ‘fixer’, bringing people together is Tati’s thing. Her generosity knows no bounds.
Miles joined the WSTA in 2012 from the Defra. He has overall responsibility for the Wine and Spirit Trade Association. Miles was previously Deputy Director for EU and international agriculture policy, including reform of the EU’s Common Agriculture Policy. He was previously deputy director for European and global issues at the Cabinet Office and spent much of his early career at the Department of Communities and Local Government.
Miles has worked across a broad range of public policy, including urban regeneration, drugs policy and social exclusion, and has been involved in significant negotiations at national and European level. He worked closely with senior Ministers in successive governments – including as private secretary to two Cabinet Ministers.
With a hospitality career spanning 30 years, Martin started in the Royal Household in the food department and then joined Prue Leith of “Bake Off” fame for nine years, where he was promoted to Operations Director. In 1999, Martin opened his restaurant Dibbens in Smithfield Market, with Zagat describing it as one of the best restaurants in the City and has since held the position of Operations Director at key venues across the capital, looking after some of London’s most iconic venues, including the Barbican, The Serpentine Gallery and the Historic Royal Palaces.
Having graduated from L’Academie du Champagne in 2000, Dibben became its chairman in 2016. More recently, he was appointed Consul of the South of England for the Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne – the official guild representing the Champagne region.
Founder of the mindful drinking brand and creative consultancy La Maison Wellness, Camille has spent her career as a consultant and global brand ambassador most notably for St- Germain and the Bacardi family of brands.
Kate is Nudge’s founder and Managing Director. She has worked in PR for 28 years and is an expert in food and drink PR. She drives the business forward and instills a vibrant company culture.
Melanie Hayes (she/her) is a Managing Partner at Bethnal Green Ventures, Europe’s leading early stage tech for good VC. She is a Chartered Accountant with over 15 years of experience in early-stage investment spanning corporate venturing, M&A, specialist finance and impact investment. She’s led over 100 transactions and specialises in supporting founders with business model strategy, commercial growth, fundraising, organisational development and impact. An experienced board member, Melanie currently sits on four growth-stage portfolio company boards. Prior to BGV, she worked at Octopus Investments, Channel 4 and Deloitte.
Melanie is also an Ambassador for ReGenerate – a charity whose mission is to make it easier to start, grow and lead a purpose-driven business.
Daniel I’Anson is the Commercial Director of Everleaf, a range of non-alcoholic aperitifs inspired by, and produced with flavours from the natural world. Everleaf makes non-alcoholic drinks taste great, and sell better! He has worked in the drinks industry for over twenty-five years in a range of sales, marketing and brand building roles.
His experience covers both large multi-national companies such as LVMH and Pernod Ricard as well as start-up businesses. He is passionate about brand experience, liquid excellence and the stories which sit behind every drink and bottle.
Following a 24-year career in hospitality, Denise Hamilton-Mace is now the founder and editor of Low No Drinker Magazine, the no.1 UK magazine for mindful & sober curious drinkers, and the host of the Low No Drinker Podcast, a weekly conversation with low/no-&-light brand founders and industry experts.
Denise is also a public speaker and writer passionately championing the rise and rise of the low/no-&-light alcohol industry.
Daniya is the MD of Drydrinker, the UKs leading retailer of low/no alcohol. She is well versed on both sides of the retail coin having launched her own retail food brand into Selfridges and Whole Foods as well as introducing new brands to Drydrinker.
Previously the multi-award-winning Group Head of Wine for Hakkasan, Chrissie is one half of the No/Low consultancy Brimful Drinks, and in 2022 co-founded the World Alcohol-Free Awards. Pioneering work with No & Low drinks since 2016 and known as a committed educator and thoughtful communicator. Awards include Imbibe Industry Legend, IWSC Lifetime Achievement, WSET Educator of the Year.
Working for over 20 years in food supply, Rachel has led a number of teams in manufacturing and retail, buying, marketing and food service. She has a breadth of experience that enables her to maximise relationships delivering commercially for retailers, manufacturers and customers.
As far as highlights go, she’s enjoyed working for major brands including Selfridges, Sodexo, and Costa She’s advised start ups and local firms developing sales strategies and worked with digital platforms to drive disruption in the online wholesale area.
Wim founded World Of Nix, the first European chain of fully alcohol-free shops. Next to brick & mortar stores, World of Nix runs a European Webshop and supplies a variety of other leading retailers, bars and restaurants. Wim lives in The Netherlands with his fiancee and three daughters.
Vaughan has over 25 years’ experience in the drinks strategy sector, and he has used his knowledge to pioneer the world’s first luxury wellbeing bar group.
Throughout his career, he has developed central aspects of over 40 leading spirits distilleries around the world including the iconic Bombay Sapphire Distillery in Hampshire. As CEO of renowned drinks consultancy 1751 Ltd. since 2012, he has advised a who’s who of the drinks industry, developing brand strategy for Pernod Ricard, Brown Forman, Bacardi, Diageo and Beam Suntory.
Vaughan pushed the boundaries of his entrepreneurship to a new level in 2019 when he founded Europe’s first dedicated alcohol-free cocktail bar, The Virgin Mary, in Dublin. As the creator of TVM, he is incredibly excited to be delivering high-end wellbeing venues globally through the franchising and licensing of TVM Collective Ltd.
Worked in the drinks industry for over 14 years, with a background working in wine, then for wineries in Australia. Followed by work with the UK leading RTMs across wine and spirits and helping launch Enotria’s non-alc portfolio in 2018. More recently, I was commercial manager at the IWSC leading the sales team & working as a consultant for drinks brands internationally.
In 2023, I co-founded Kore Drinks a specialist agency/distributor for low & no drinks brands as well as disruptive drinks without boundaries. We work with venues, distributors, brands and partners across the UK market with ambitions to expand globally and disrupt a traditional market.
After an early career in corporate headhunting, Roberta decided her love of wine was too great to ignore, and so decided to spend a year in Australia’s Yarra Valley, working the vintage and gaining cellar hand experience at numerous commercial and boutique wineries. This solidified her passion and she hasn’t looked back since.
Roberta is now the Wine Trading Controller at Molson Coors Beverage Company, and previously was the Category Buying Manager for Wine for both Heineken’s free trade business and the Heineken owned Star Pubs & Bars. Prior to this, she was the Buyer for German and latterly New Zealand wine at Tesco UK.
Helen is the Lead Strategist at PB, specialising in innovation, design strategy, brand storytelling and naming. She has experience working extensively across alcohol, in particular luxury spirits; working across number of Diageo whisky brands including Johnnie Walker, Talisker, J&B, Port Ellen, Brora and Mortlach and was the lead creative strategist for the Special Release Malts collection for four consecutive years.
A qualified accountant turned system implementer with over 30 years of experience in accounting systems, Balal has spent the last 20 years working with renowned firms such as Coda, Cognos (IBM), Deloitte, and a SAP Partner. In 2014, they founded their own company in the same field, now employing around 20 people and recognized as a first-choice partner for their associated software company.
Between 2012 and 2016, they explored the mocktail market but did not enter before it became oversaturated. In 2018/19, they shifted focus toward developing a non-alcoholic alternative. Initially, their daughter was asked to create flavours for gin, but given their ethical stance as Muslims, they were uncomfortable with the alcohol association. This led them to experiment with alcohol-free options, even attending a gin-making course where their alcohol-free concept was initially met with scepticism.
After arriving at a flavour profile they were happy with, they partnered with professional recipe developers whose products are sold in prestigious outlets like Harrods and Waitrose. After 11 iterations, they created a refined, high-quality product that received over 90% positive feedback from tasters and customers alike. In 2024, the product was even commended by the WAFA.
The company now has three SKUs ready for market, with plans to refine as needed.
Raissa de Haas is the co-founder of the award-winning UK premium tonic and mixers brand Double Dutch, alongside her twin sister Joyce. Born in the Netherlands, Raissa moved to London in 2013 to pursue a master’s in Entrepreneurship at UCL. Observing a gap in the market for innovative, low-calorie mixers, Raissa and Joyce wrote their dissertation about this subject and launched Double Dutch in 2015 with their debut mixers, ‘Pomegranate & Basil’ and ‘Cucumber & Watermelon’, which received rave reviews.
Under Raissa’s leadership in sales and marketing, Double Dutch has garnered significant acclaim, including the Foodpreneur Award from Sir Richard Branson, the King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade, and a spot on the Forbes ’30 under 30′ Europe list. The brand, known for its low-calorie, innovative, and sustainably-sourced mixers, now sells in over 40 countries and is available in more than 5000 bars and restaurants in the UK.
Beyond business success, Raissa is committed to doing business the right way. Double Dutch has secured B Corporation status, reflecting its commitment to responsible business practices. The brand also promotes inclusivity through initiatives like the Female Bartending scholarship program and its charitable work with the Princes’ Trust. Raissa de Haas continues to drive the brand’s vision of bringing fun and excitement to the mixers market.
Frankie is part of Nudge PR’s social media team. With her finger on the pulse of current trends, she is expert at bringing a fresh perspective to digital communications, from creating social plans to influencer relations
Luke Boase is the founder of Lucky Saint, a pioneering non-alcoholic beer brand that has quickly gained recognition for its commitment to quality and taste. Driven by a passion for creating a beer that could deliver the full-flavor experience without the alcohol, Luke launched Lucky Saint in 2018 after years of research and development.
Louise Fitzpatrick is Strategic Growth Manager for HEINEKEN Globally, with a focus on growth opportunities in LoNo and Beyond Beer. She has worked for HEINEKEN for over 12 years, across various roles and functions, in both Dublin and Amsterdam. In previous roles, she was responsible for fuelling consumer centricity by adopting future proof tools and capabilities. She also led the roll out of the organisation’s Global Demand Space framework, and was a key instigator of the company’s expansion into Low and No Alcohol beverages. Prior to HEINEKEN, Louise held a number of roles in innovation and media agencies, as well as a stint as Insights Manager for Tourism Ireland. Louise is passionate about the Low and No alochol beer and how the category is meeting the evolving needs of consumers.
WSTA Kelly deals with compliance and food regulatory matters. She leads on low and no which includes acting as secretariat to the WSTA’s Low and No Working Group, a group formed to support WSTA members in producing, labelling and promoting LoNo alcohol products in the UK.
Jeremy is the Co-founder of Nice, an unpretentious wine company. He has spent the best part of 15 years helping build business in the food and beverage sector and launched Nice with business partner Lucy Busk in 2019. The business is on a mission to change the way the world wines, for the better.
Throughout his career Dan has built up a solid reputation as one of the UK’s most respected liquor aficionados and was crowned Global Gin Ambassador of the Year at the Icons of Gin Awards in 2018. The award was in honour of his partnership with Ableforth’s, who have been a staple of the most discerning of bars around the globe with their iconic Bathtub Gin.
Lucky Saint’s very own Managing Director. Emma is a consumer goods guru with almost 20 years of experience under her belt, from global brands like Diageo to start-ups turned household names like Graze and Innocent. The mum of two girls, Emma is an advocate for championing women in industry, and is an ambassador for Retail Week’s Be Inspired programme and Steering Group Member for The Grocery Girls.
Helen’s background is in drinks marketing – spanning soft drinks, coffee, beer and spirits.
She spent 17 years of her career at Diageo, leading the innovation team and innovating across categories including whisky, vodka, gin and RTD’s. Helen co founded Distill Ventures whilst at Diageo and led Diageo’s first venture into the non alcoholic spirits category. As a partner in Drinks Sherpa, she works to help the world drink better by supporting drinks founders and startups with investment and mentoring.
A foundation in hotel management, including The Ritz London, introduced David to the world of fine wines, later joining the Australian assault on the global wine market while working as Director of Brands – UK/Europe for Rosemount Estate Wines. Recognising the encouraging developments in the NOLO beverage sector, David established the Vinolo project in 2018 to critically assess existing products and focus on creating alcohol-free wines for enthusiasts. Mindful of the impact of years of consuming alcohol on his own health, he decided to go alcohol-free himself, although longed to still be able to enjoy the fascinating flavours, textures & ritual that only wine provides. With Co-Founder & wine trade veteran Will Willis, David launched ZENO Prestige alcohol-liberated wines in December 2022, garnering numerous awards & continuing to discover new techniques to improve alcohol-free wine quality & sophistication. David also actively works to support the dynamic NoLo segment as it grows & prospers internationally.
Josh Kelly is the Head Buyer and brand relationship manager for The Club Soda Tasting Rooms. He has been part of the Low and No movement since 2017, where he has gained a broad perspective into the sector both within the UK and abroad.
He is a regular IWSC judge, Senior WAFA Judge, and specialist lead judge in No and Low Wine for WSET. He has been a guest panellist at Imbibe, The No2Low Show and London Wine Fair.
Josh has worked with several brands at the developmental stage of new products and has led training for market leaders including Diageo, Moet & Hennessy, Red Bull and 67 Pall Mall.
From 2020 Nicolas Medicamento has ventured into the entrepreneurial realm, leveraging his extensive expertise to empower the hospitality industry. As an inspiring Speaker, bar Trainer, and Judge in prestigious cocktail and spirits competitions, he is sharing his wisdom and elevate the standards of the craft.
In addition, Nicolas collaborates with luxury brands and renowned chefs, creating unforgettable food and beverage experiences. His innate ability to merge flavors, innovate cocktail recipes, and curate remarkable dining encounters has made him a sought-after collaborator in the world of gastronomy.
Nicolas Medicamento was an integral part of the team that contributed to Borgo Egnazia’s achievement of the prestigious Best Hotel of the Year award in 2016.At The Savoy’s American Bar, Nicolas was a dedicated team member who shared a passion for contributing to their success, resulting in their well-deserved recognition as the World’s Best Bar in both 2017 and 2018.
Azaria Rizzo is Design Director at PB, specialising in consumer brands. With a strong focus on redefining global brand DNA, Azaria has made significant contributions to renowned brands such as Tresemme. They have also played a pivotal role in the personal care industry, working on iconic brands like Dove, Carex and VO5. Passionate about creating beautiful brands with a clear ethos, Azaria excels in effective branding that reflects a compelling narrative, combining a love for elegant simplicity with a keen eye for beautiful typography.
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