Mainebiz

AWARD B U S I N E S S L E A D E R S O F T H E Y E A R W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 19 M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 2 6 brands, so I've spent years thinking about product, distribution, partner- ships and growth. I've worked across startups and larger companies, and that experience gave me the confi- dence to navigate everything from supply chains to retail conversations. Mainelove is mission-driven, but it's also very operationally complex, and that's where my past experience really helped. MB: How did you identify Sebago Lake as your source? JM: What makes the beer so great in Maine is really the water — Sebago Lake is truly world-class water. It's naturally filtered and protected by a massive forested watershed, which keeps it incredibly clean. It's also iconic here in Maine — people know it, trust it and care about it. For us, it felt obvious: If we were going to build a Maine water brand, it had to start with one of the cleanest sources in the country. MB: What's involved in operations? JM: We work with local brewers that already have high-quality can- ning infrastructure and strict food safety standards. ey co-pack for us using their existing lines. It's a collaborative model. We provide the water sourcing, the process, the brand and the aluminum cans and they produce it locally. It's efficient, sustainable and provides breweries with additional revenue at a time when alcohol consump- tion is shifting. MB: Which brewers are partnering with you to date? JM: Brickyard Hollow, Geary's and Mast Landing. Each partnership reflects what we're trying to build — a network of Maine businesses sup- porting one another. MB: Who makes the aluminum cans? JM: Ardagh Metal Packaging and its subsidiary, Hart Print in Maryland. MB: What's your distribution to date? JM: We sold $500,000 worth of product — 22,000 cases, 265,000 cans — from May to December in 2025. We started locally, in restau- rants, hospitality venues and spe- cialty retail around Greater Portland. We're expanding from there. Our growth strategy is to build strong Maine roots first, then grow region- ally as demand buildings. MB: How is mainelove financed? JM: I've raised $2.2 million to date from private Maine individuals and from private equity groups. MB: What are your expansion plans? JM: We're building outward from Maine down I-95 into Boston and greater Massachusetts, which feels like a natural next step. Later this year, we plan to expand into Florida. e goal is to growth thoughtfully along the East Coast while keeping Maine at the heart of everything we do. MB: What does this business mean for you personally? JM: Maine has shaped who I am. For me, mainelove has always been a give-back — of building something that honors our natural resources, supports local businesses, highlights the incredible resources in Maine and creates opportunity here at home. Laurie Schreiber, Mainebiz senior writer, can be reached at lschreiber @ mainebiz.biz If we were going to build a Maine water brand, it had to start with one of the cleanest sources in the country. HammondLumber.com BUSINESS LEADERS OF THE YEAR 34 LOCATIONS ACROSS MAINE & NEW HAMPSHIRE

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