HOW TO LAUNCH A DRINKS BRAND
WINNING IN A CHANGING MARKET

Wonderworks Webinar
Thursday 16th April, 1-2:30pm BST
On Zoom

The drinks industry is evolving fast. From premium non-alcoholic options to hybrid spirits and culturally driven aperitifs, consumer expectations are shifting across every drinks category. New brands are launching at speed, yet only a handful truly cut through.

Why launching a drinks brand is harder than ever

The barrier to entry in the drinks industry has never been lower, but the bar for success has never been higher. As a creative drinks agency, we see more brands entering the market with strong ideas, yet struggling to translate that into real traction.

The challenge is not just about product. It is about building a brand that connects with a clear audience, fits a relevant occasion and stands out across shelf, screen and venue.

Consumers today expect more. They are looking for brands that feel culturally relevant, visually distinctive and commercially credible. Without that alignment, even the most exciting concepts can fail to land.

What successful drinks brand launches get right

The brands that succeed are those that build with intent from day one. As a drinks marketing agency, we see a consistent pattern across launches that scale successfully.

They start with clear insight. They define a strong brand world. They understand their route to market early and align every touchpoint, from packaging to digital to in venue brand activation.

Most importantly, they balance creativity with commercial clarity. Pricing, margins and channel strategy are not afterthoughts. They are built into the foundation of the brand.

What we’ll cover in the WonderNETwork webinar

In this session, we will unpack the realities of launching a drinks brand in today’s landscape, including:

• How the convergence of alcoholic and non-alcoholic is reshaping the drinks category
• Why Gen Z and shifting occasions demand sharper positioning
• The common mistakes that cause brands to stall before they scale
• Why product alone is never enough without cultural and commercial alignment
• How to connect insight, brand world, route to market and brand activation into one cohesive strategy

This is not theory. It is a practical discussion grounded in real experience across start ups and global drinks businesses.

MEET THE EXPERTS SHAPING THE CONVERSATION

The session is co-hosted by Carly Foxwell – Founder & Commercial Strategy Lead, Fox in the Well, one of the leading commercial strategy voices in the drinks industry, known for helping brands build with pricing, route to market and long term growth in mind.

She is joined by a curated panel of speakers bringing complementary perspectives:

Imme Ermgassen – Co-Founder, Botivo
 on building culturally relevant brands and redefining non-alcoholic

Yogesh Gandhi – Global Innovation Leader (formerly Chivas Brothers, Pernod Ricard)
on turning consumer insight into innovation that drives growth

Miranda Hart – Founder & Creative Strategy Director, Wonderworks 
 on aligning insight, storytelling and creative strategies to build distinctive brands

Liam Davy – Beverage Director, Hawksmoor 
on what truly works in venue and at the point of consumption

Together, they offer a 360 view of what it takes to launch and scale in today’s drinks industry.

What this means for drinks brands in 2026 and beyond

As the drinks industry continues to evolve, the brands that succeed will be those that move with clarity and intent.

This means building brands that are not only creatively compelling, but commercially viable. Brands that understand their audience, their occasion and their place within the wider drinks category.

For founders, innovation teams and brand leaders, the opportunity is significant. But so is the risk of getting it wrong.

The brands that win will be those that bring together insight, creativity and commercial thinking into one cohesive approach from the very beginning.

Join the WonderNETwork Webinar

HOW to Launch a Drinks Brand – Winning in a Changing Market is open for registration now.
Join founders, innovators and industry leaders for a practical session on how to build drinks brands that cut through.