NEW YORK — Boisson, a retailer of non-alcoholic beverages, has named Sheetal Aiyer as CEO. The company has also received funding in a $5 million bridge round from Convivialité Ventures, the VC arm of Pernod Ricard, and Connect Ventures, the investment partnership between entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and venture capital firm New Enterprise Associates (NEA). The investment will help fuel domestic and international expansion as well as strategic partnerships.
Boisson has six stores in New York City, two in Los Angeles and one in San Francisco.
“Since day one, Boisson’s mission has been to bring elevated NA offerings to the masses and we are excited to use this new investment to continue expanding our store footprint and product assortment,” said Nick Bodkins, Founder & President of Boisson. “Further, I am thrilled to pass the CEO baton over to Sheetal at this pivotal time as we continue to lead the category forward and normalize NA drinking within our culture.”
Aiyer, a seasoned executive with a passion for startups and growth phase companies, brings a robust skillset to Boisson, having previously held titles such as President, COO, and General Counsel across multiple brands and organizations in the CPG space. As the Principal and Founder of Vik Charles Consulting he has helped scale multiple companies including Marie Veronique skincare, Cardinal Spirits, Eureka Heights Brewing Company, and Sixpoint Brewery.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead what is already the pre-eminent tastemaker and omni channel platform for the NA space, and believe the opportunities ahead for Boisson are profound,” shares Aiyer. “I’m thankful for Nick’s thought leadership and vision, and look forward to working alongside him and the rest of the team to continue evolving the way the world drinks.”
Launched in 2021 in NYC by Bodkins, Boisson was born with the mission of providing non-alcoholic spirits to consumers in a welcoming, judgment-free zone that sparks curiosity. Since then, the company has expanded to 8 storefronts across NYC, LA and San Francisco in addition to rapidly growing its ecommerce platform, executing strategic industry partnerships with brands like Drizly, and reporting a revenue increase of 300% from 2021 to 2022.
“Boisson plays a key role in the fast-growing non-alcoholic category, by discovering and curating the best NA brands for consumers,” said Brandon Yahn, Partner at Convivialité Ventures. “The company helps the leading NA brands expand their business across Boisson’s retail, ecommerce, and growing wholesale channels. We are thrilled to work closely with them on the next stage of their journey.”
