Your name: Leigh Matkovich & Lane Matkovich

Year the company was started:  2022

Where are the products made? Canada

What is the ‘key ingredient’ that makes your product line special? 

High-quality hops and select malts you’d find in your favourite craft beers. All brewed together using innovative yeast strains to produce the best-tasting non-alcoholic beer possible.

What motivated you to start your company and create the products that we see today? 

When we first started drinking non-alcoholic beers, it wasn’t because the category was exciting; it was because we simply wanted to drink less alcohol to avoid the less-than-desirable effects while still enjoying beer. But the options out there didn’t appeal to us. Coming from the craft beer world, where design, community, and great beer come together, we found that this energy was missing in non-alcoholic beer. That’s where we found our spark and the inspiration to start Nonny.

What are your company’s core values?

Product first — We’re dedicated to crafting the best non-alcoholic beer on the market. Beerhas been around for thousands of years, but only recently have people started adapting it for modern lifestyles. We want to lead that charge and push the movement toward better beer for everyone.

Beer for everyone — Whether you’ve quit drinking for good, are taking a night off, or just want to mix in one Nonny during a night out, we want you to feel included in every moment. Our goal is to give you an amazing non-alc option without sacrificing the flavor or the fun of craft beer.

Highlighting amazing people — We’re passionate about celebrating the incredible people who work in hospitality. They’re the ones leading the change—welcoming non-alc beer, serving it proudly, and breaking down old stigmas. They’re helping redefine what beer culture can be.

If you could tell a retailer three things about what makes your brand different, what would they be? 

• Built through community – We built our brand in hospitality and in the communities where beer is shared and trust is earned. Today, we’re proud to have over 500 bars, restaurants, and breweries carrying our beers—and that number keeps growing. We’re active in the communities we serve and support grassroots events to bring our brand to life, while introducing people to our products in the communities they love. For example, we’re in community pop-ups, run clubs, design shows, and film festivals. It’s through this exposure that we end up with amazing brand champions that include top athletes, creators, artists, and personalities.
• Family-owned and Canadian – Nonny was started by two brothers from Canada. We’re family-owned, independent, and operated with heart.
• Purpose-built, built with intention. Nonny is not a line extension – Nonny is a dedicated non-alcoholic beer brand, and not a side project. That authenticity builds real trust with our customers, and allows us to focus on making incredible beer and experiences.
• Design matters – The non-alc aisle can feel stale. We’re here to change that with thoughtful design and great beer, giving people a can they’re proud to hold. We’re bringing the fun of craft beer into the grocery aisle.

What are some challenges you’ve had to overcome to bring your business to its current state?

We’re a small team with experience in beer, but little experience with food products, which non-alcoholic beer falls into. The learning curve is steep as you start on the journey into CPG, and we’ve had to put in an incredible amount of work to learn the ins and outs of grocery success, food safety, regulations, and all the other things that come along with entering CPG. We’ve rolled with the punches, kept our resilience, and we’re learning at a faster rate than ever. We’re proud of what we’ve built, but the learning never slows down, and we’ve never been more excited to keep pushing to bring Canadians amazing non-alcoholic options. Four years in, we’ve built a strong, recognizable brand that Canadians connect with and keep coming back to.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

We live and play in Vancouver, so staying active and enjoying the beauty of BC is a big part of who we are. Snowboarding, mountain biking, and trail running are part of our regular routine. We’re also both obsessed with food & drink, love to cook, and enjoy spending time at our favorite craft breweries and restaurants around Vancouver, and across Canada. Lane also welcomed twin girls in January, and Leigh has assumed the role of a double uncle! Running a business while balancing a full family is no easy feat, but Nonny is a full family endeavor and the support from everyone around has been incredible.