The Next Round: What happens after you change your drinking?
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The Next Round: What happens after you change your drinking?
Jörg Geiger is a chef with a passion for learning and innovation and has been making alcohol-free drinks since 2003. From an early age he was fascinated by MeadowFruit and the beverages produced from them in his parents’ business. Over the years, the initial fascination developed into a deep passion for heritage fruit varieties, their cultivation, preservation and processing.
Today, drinks made from heritage apple and pear varieties enjoy renewed popularity. For Jörg Geiger, the excellent reputation of drinks made from MeadowFruit is mainly due to the “diva” of heritage pear varieties, the Champagner- Bratbirne Heritage [most]- Pear. Today, Jörg Geiger is known far beyond Germany’s borders for his knowledge of MeadowFruit trees. From new scientific findings to old techniques of production, Jörg Geiger combines tradition and innovation. The result is a plethora of unique MeadowFruit creations. Doing everything possible to preserve the ancient trees and the diversity of fruit varieties is one of his main goals and a constant motivation. That includes working towards even more sustainably and further increasing the biodiversity of the orchards. Soil health is of particular importance, because MeadowFruit trees are deeply rooted. And Jörg Geiger wants to make the owners of MeadowFruit orchards once again proud of their trees and the value of the fruit they yield.
A pioneer in the non-alcoholic space, Claire co-founded Æcorn in 2018 alongside Ben Branson, leading to its acquisition by Diageo in 2020. Now Head of Luxury Advocacy at Diageo, Claire is a speaker, mentor, and industry advocate, serving on the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation board and chairing the IWSC Alternative Drinks Awards.
General Manager & Head Sommelier at Counter 71, a British ingredients led restaurant in Old Street London with a strong No & Low programme. Harry has over 25 years experience in bars & restaurants & joined the judges for 2024 Sommelier Edits No & Low Awards.
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.
Paddy is a holistic drinks expert, with a background in bar and restaurant operations, and extensive experience opening new hospitality outlets on 3 continents. He currently manages the drinks menu at Côte, developing all categories and specialising in wine buying and cocktail NPD. He holds a WSET Level 3 in wine, and is an Advanced Cicerone in beer.
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.
Frederik is the founder of Lowlander, the pioneering brewery crafting no & low-alcohol beers infused with botanicals. With a passion for flavor and innovation, he has redefined beer by blending brewing traditions with natural ingredients. Frederik leads Lowlander in shaping the future of mindful drinking with bold, botanical brews.
Paul Mathew is the founder of Everleaf Drinks, a leading brand in the non-alcoholic aperitif space. A conservation biologist turned bartender, he combines deep botanical knowledge with hospitality expertise to craft complex, nature-inspired drinks. Passionate about sustainability, Paul pioneers flavourful, alcohol-free options that rival traditional spirits in depth and experience.
In the fall of 2017, Morten Sørensen, a Danish digital nomad, decided to embark on a journey, a 100-day alcohol-free journey. A few years later that journey had evolved into the mindful drinking company ISH, based in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Morten likes to challenge the norm and has done so continuously in his professional career that has evolved mostly around building multinational brands, before the path led him to building his own brand, ISH. Now exporting to over a 20 countries, ISH is on the mission to make mindful drinking easy – something Morten was missing as a mindful drinker.
Founder & Chief Flow Maker on No and Flow Brands – the Premier Sales & Distribution Agency, specialising in Non-Alcoholic Drink.
Silvia received a degree in Agricultural engineering from the University of Zaragoza, Spain and a second degree from La Rioja University in Winemaking. She then traveled around the world learning various methods of international winemaking, including four years as Production Manager in a wine cooperative in D.O. Calatayud, working in Germany in the Mosel area, and working at About Wine and Style Consult in Neustadt Weinstrasse. Silvia has been apart of the BevZero team since 2015.
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.
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.
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.
The Founder of Drink Dry, the GCC’s first and only premium non-alcoholic drinks marketplace, Erika is a well-known and revered figure in the beverage industry.
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.
Zoe Burgess is the founder of one of London’s leading drinks consultancies, Atelier Pip and has been recognised as one of “The 5 tastemakers changing the London cocktail scene” by Conde Nast Traveller.
She is also known for her acclaimed cocktail book ‘The Cocktail Cabinet: The art, science and pleasure of mixing the perfect drink’, which was published by Octopus books in 2022 and nominated for best new cocktail book at Tales of The Cocktail 2023 awards. She is also lead drinks consultant at London’s iconic The Standard Hotel, overseeing their cocktail offering across the site’s five venues.
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.
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.
Nick is Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Boisson, a consumer ecommerce and import/wholesale distribution platform for emerging non-alcoholic and functional beverages.
JOMO Club is the leading non-alc drinks discovery box & club in the UK. As the Founder, I am committed to driving the alcohol-free space through the power of small brand to consumer discovery, education and powerful connection.
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.
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.
Tom Ward is the founder and driving force behind Wise Bartender, the UK’s largest specialist retailer of premium alcohol-free drinks. With a public‑health background, he launched the business in 2017 to offer customers mindful alternatives without needing to commit to full cases. Since then, Tom has curated a selection of over 450 varieties of beer, wine, cider and spirits, championing accessibility by offering single units, mixed cases, and pop‑up events like #WiseFest.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Laura Simonelli is a dynamic innovator in the world of hospitality, currently serving as the Head of Bar Development, Training, and Openings at Dishoom. With a fervent passion for mixology, gastronomy, and creating memorable experiences, Laura brings a wealth of expertise to her role. Her journey is fuelled by a love for discovering new flavours, cultures, and artistic expressions, whether through savoring global cuisines, exploring vibrant cities, or immersing herself in diverse musical and artistic landscapes.
Tim, with his wife and business partner, Mary, operate seven boutique pubs in rural Cheshire and North Staffordshire. They are committed to being renowned for having one of the best drinks acts in the UK and whilst space is at a premium on their bars, they will make space for the right drinks that capture the imagination of their guests and their teams.
Katie Jenkins is the Marketing & Partnerships Director at KAM Insights, joining in 2019 after over 15 years in the UK retail sector. She specialises in customer and consumer research, in‑store experience, people development, and marketing, with a strong focus on client‑centricity. Since 2019 she has shaped KAM’s brand, communications strategy and become a prominent voice in hospitality insight . Katie serves on the advisory board for Gamechangers and judges the Licensee of the Year and NITA awards. She’s also a seasoned conference presenter and key partner in industry benchmarking reports .
Founder of Miue — a wine-inspired non-alc spritz.
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