During Women’s History Month, Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) is highlighting female entrepreneurs who are making history today in the world of retail. The final installment in this weekly series is an interview with Laura Taylor, founder of the zero-percent alcohol company Mingle Mocktails, which creates sparkling mocktails. Taylor founded the company in 2017 and uses natural, clean ingredients in her products.

Inner Circle: What motivated you to start Mingle Mocktails?

Laura Taylor: I come from a corporate background, and while I was advancing my career in tech, I attended many cocktail parties, dinners, and retreats where alcohol was embedded in most, if not all, of these activities. I decided to quit drinking. While giving up alcohol was hard, I found it even harder to go back into these work and social situations because I was stuck with boring soda or water … it left me feeling left out! I knew that I or anyone who decided to give up alcohol for a night or as a lifestyle choice should have an option that reinforces inclusivity. I felt compelled to create a clean-crafted non-alcoholic beverage that matched the sophistication of a specialty cocktail, with no booze. That’s when the idea for Mingle Mocktails was born — a flexibly mixable, fun, and flirty line of mocktails designed to celebrate your choice and your spirit, whether you choose not to booze for a day, week, or ever.

IC: Can you share more about the challenges you faced during social gatherings as a non-drinker and how that experience influenced the development of your brand?

LT: I was surprised to find how alienating it felt to navigate business dinners and social get-togethers as a non-drinker. Not only did non-alcoholic options feel like an afterthought (often limited to still or plain seltzer water), but saying “no” to alcohol was met with a questioning look. I knew that if I was experiencing these feelings and searching for a premium non-alcoholic drink option, there were surely other women doing the same.

Especially in this wonderful time where there are many nutritional options available that support dietary and personal restrictions and allergies, I knew there should be an alcohol-free option available to support anyone looking for a better-for-you option. It has taken hospitality and retail organizations a few years to recognize and respond to the increasing demand for alcohol-free beverages, but it was worth the wait. The time has finally come, and being alcohol-free is now seen as an empowering choice rather than a stigma. As a mother of young adults, I’m thrilled that younger generations have more options to support a healthier lifestyle that will minimize risk of addiction.

IC: Mingle Mocktails stands out by avoiding adaptogens or “functional” additives in its recipes. How did you approach the formulation of your beverages to ensure they catered to those in recovery without triggering elements?

LT: I intentionally took this approach because of my own journey as a highly functioning alcoholic. For people like me who are in active recovery from alcohol or drug addiction, it’s recommended to avoid any mind-altering elements that could trigger that buzzy feeling which could nudge people back into the addiction they worked so hard to overcome. Mingle gives me the ability to party with confidence, knowing I’m fully in control of my faculties. I love the inclusive nature of Mingle — approximately 30 percent of our customers mix Mingle with alcohol or include functional elements like CBD or adaptogens. Mingle offers a clean nutritional platform that enables people to add to it if they wish.

IC: Since launching in 2017, Mingle has secured distribution in major retailers like Amazon, Whole Foods, Costco, Wegmans, CVS, etc. Can you elaborate on your retail strategy and how you managed to establish partnerships with such prominent outlets?

LT: Before I founded Mingle, I established a successful career in tech and I established great networking skills and I made it a point to learn about organizational structures, business processes and key motivators that drive decisions as part of my past job. I applied those same skills to engaging with retailers and retail buyers — I learned about the retail landscape, how retailers are structured, and what motivates them to invest in an emerging category. I’ve found most buyers appreciate that I try to add value (and sales) to their portfolio rather than selling them a drink. I truly believe retailers who don’t invest in this category will enable their competitors to capture more sales to fill the growing demand. I tackle sales with my mission in mind, to ensure Mingle is sold and served wherever alcohol is sold and served so everyone feels part of the party. The goal is to meet our consumer where she’s already shopping, so targeting grocery stores like Whole Foods (where we’re the top-selling adult non-alcoholic beverage!), Wegmans and Erewhon, along with retailers she stops on-the-go, like CVS.

IC: As a female entrepreneur in the beverage industry, what challenges have you faced?

LT: The beverage industry is a “boys’ club” and breaking into it requires a strong conviction and innovative ideas. When I launched Mingle Mocktails, the ready-to-drink mocktail category was very new, so we had to do a lot of retailer education to ensure they understood the value of our product and placed it correctly on-shelf next to the beer and wine, not sparkling water.

IC: The wellness trend and the sober curious movement have gained momentum. How has this shift in consumer behavior impacted the success and growth of Mingle Mocktails?

LT: It’s been really exciting to see the rise of the sober curious movement, which has grown far beyond “Dry January”. We’re finding consumers gravitate towards products like Mingle because we’re flexibly mixable, you can enjoy each flavor solo or use it as a premium mixer in a cocktail or mocktail recipe. Just last year, Nielsen conducted an in-depth analysis of the adult non-alcoholic spirits industry and identified Mingle Mocktails as the fastest-growing brand in the category.

IC: Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals for Mingle Mocktails? How do you see the brand evolving in response to changing consumer preferences and trends in the non-alcoholic beverage space?

LT: Beyond making Mingle Mocktails a household name and further building out our brand world, we are focused on expanding our on-premise footprint in 2024. The sober curious trend is not going anywhere, so there is a huge growth opportunity for us in bars, restaurants and stadiums as consumers seek out delicious non-alcoholic alternatives.

We just announced an exciting national distribution partnership with RNDC, which coupled with the support of our strategic partner Bethenny Frankel, will be critical in helping us to secure on-premise accounts, expand into more key national retailers and drive sales.

IC: Do you have any favorite Mingle Mocktail flavors?

LT: When people ask me what my favorite flavor it’s like asking me who my favorite child is! The Cosmo is my favorite because she was my “firstborn”; the Mojito is my favorite because it’s inspired by our vacations in the Bahamas; the Mimosa is my favorite because she’s fun to have around morning, noon and night; and so on! I created each flavor with lots of trial and error to ensure we hit the mark with the highest quality taste and ingredients. Each flavor is unique with its own personality, so there’s something for everyone to ensure they feel part of the party! However, I will say that we’re launching a new flavor on April 1, so our latest beautiful bubbly addition might just be my new favorite … make sure to follow us @minglemocktails on social media to be the first to hear about when it drops.

Read the first, second, and third articles in this Women’s History Month series.