HealthySips stocking Manitoba-made mocktails in local grocery stores By: Gabrielle Piché Posted: 8:43 PM CDT Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026

Wednesday was mango margarita production day.

Non-alcoholic margaritas — just like the berry mojitos and pina coladas in HealthySips’ roster.

Over the past month, HealthySips has begun stocking its Manitoba-made mocktails in local grocery stores. It’s added around 36 locations since its July 15 launch.

The store count could more than double by the end of September, its owners say.

“The momentum of the non-alcoholic (beverage keeps) on growing,” said Arturo Orellana, a HealthySips co-founder.

He and Grant Reid, his business partner, wanted in on the trend. They’re executives at GFIT Wellness, an online health and fitness coaching platform.

They noticed clients would follow health plans during the week but falter by drinking alcohol on weekends, they said.

“We realized that in Manitoba, (there) was a lack of available ready-to-drink mocktails that were low in calories and low in sugars,” said Orellana, 45.

He and Reid embarked on a journey to taste the options. The duo said they found most drinks weren’t low-enough calorie or from Canada.

Around a year ago, they decided to create their own products. They went to the Prairie Research Kitchen at RRC Polytech for help, they said.

They had a low sugar goal. The goal of a zero-calorie drink was nixed: there wasn’t enough flavour, Orellana said.

HealthySips ended with products that use stevia, some sugar and blue agave. They’re advertised at 20 to 25 calories per can.

The company uses Canadian ingredients wherever possible, Orellana said.

HealthySips has inked a manufacturing agreement with Barn Hammer Brewing and deals with Sobr Market, De Luca’s and Pratts Wholesale.

“We really wanted to be first to market in Winnipeg,” said Reid, 51. “We felt like we were in a race against time to do so.”

Manitoba is home to some locally made non-alcoholic drinks, such as beers and tea-based mocktails.

Still, the demand for HealthySips has been “better than anticipated” and growing, Reid said. On Wednesday, the company announced its expansion into Red River Co-op, Popeye’s Supplements stores and specialty grocers in Manitoba.

It’s working on a deal to stock 48 Manitoba Sobeys and Safeways, Reid said.

HealthySips aims to produce about 10,000 cans weekly. It sold some 15,000 cans in its first week open and had demand exceeding 30,000 cans by week three, the founders said.

“Canadian retailers are looking for Canadian products,” said Allan Kotz, Food & Beverage Manitoba’s director of operations and finance.

“If there’s a lack of Canadian products, and you happen to be one of the companies (selling), you can scale up very, very quickly.”

HealthySips worked with the food association on ingredient list creation and Canadian Food Inspection Agency compliance.

It’s one of roughly 20 companies to use Food & Beverage Manitoba’s FABMb Forward program, which assists businesses who are scaling.

Denise Aminot-Gilchrist, who oversees the program, said she’s worked with several firms that have grown because of a “Buy Canadian” demand from grocers and customers.

“Some have started off in maybe four or five stores, and next thing you know, they’re in like 55,” Aminot-Gilchrist said. “It’s both a challenge and a blessing.”

At Sobr Market, the level of Canadian focus depends on the customer. Flavour and preference tend to drive purchases, though Canadian options are welcomed, said co-owner Jessie Halliburton.

“It’s really exciting to see some local Winnipeg brands coming out,” she said. “We do so much with brands out of Toronto or out of B.C., and we don’t get very many local brands here.”

Canada’s low- and no-alcoholic beverage industry has hit $222 million in annual sales, according to a June NielsenIQ report.

Sobr Market continues to expand: franchisees recently opened locations in Dauphin and Vernon, B.C.

Another shop will open in Charlottetown, P.E.I. in October, Halliburton said. The company currently has 10 stores.

HealthySips’ founders aim to sell nationally and plan to release an energy drink at the end of the month.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com