Sipping With Purpose: Protecting Innovation in Manitoba’s First Functional Mocktail Brand

When Arturo Orellana and his business partner began developing Healthy Sips, they weren’t just responding to a trend — they were responding to a shift in how people think about health, socializing, and alcohol.

As the co-founders of GFIT Wellness, a Manitoba-based health and fitness coaching company that has supported more than 20,000 people on their physical, nutritional, and mental health journeys, Orellana had a front-row seat to changing consumer behaviour. People still wanted to gather, celebrate, and enjoy a drink — but more and more, they were looking for options that aligned with their health goals.

That insight sparked Healthy Sips: Manitoba’s first functional mocktail brand — a line of alcohol-free beverages designed not just to taste good, but to do something.

The Project: Protecting a Health-Driven Innovation

Healthy Sips set out to create a new category of beverage: functional mocktails that support hydration, energy, and cognitive performance, while remaining low in sugar and calories. Unlike many mocktails on the market, which rely on juice concentrates and soda water, Healthy Sips is being developed with functional ingredients backed by clinical testing.

As the team moved from concept to formulation — working with academic institutions and external partners — they quickly realized that intellectual property protection would be essential.

Through North Forge’s ElevateIP program, Healthy Sips engaged legal experts to build a comprehensive IP foundation that would support both product development and future commercialization.

“Even though we have another business, this is a totally different industry,” Orellana explains. “Getting support and guidance when you’re starting something new — especially something this complex — is incredibly valuable.”

Healthy Sips operates at the intersection of food innovation, health science, and consumer branding — a space where ideas, formulations, and processes can be easily copied if not properly protected.

As the team began conversations with universities, supplement manufacturers, branding agencies, and future distribution partners, the need for a strong IP strategy became clear.

“We didn’t realize how important it was to protect confidentiality until we were already deep into discussions,” says Orellana. “There’s no point putting in all that time and effort just to have someone duplicate your formula.”

ElevateIP provided the structure and expertise needed to move forward with confidence,  ensuring that Healthy Sips could collaborate openly while safeguarding its most valuable assets.

Outcomes and Impact to Date

As a direct result of ElevateIP-supported services, Healthy Sips has achieved several key milestones, including IP strategy development, as well as trademark searches and clearance — done to reduce risk ahead of market launch and future expansion.

These outcomes have been especially important as Healthy Sips progresses through clinical testing and regulatory preparation — including formulation development aligned with Health Canada requirements.

Laying the Groundwork for Inclusive, Healthy Growth

Healthy Sips is currently in the clinical testing and validation phase, working with institutions such as Loyalist College and Prairie Kitchen at Red River College to ensure its functional ingredients meet regulatory and health claim standards.

The company plans to launch in spring 2026, with a multi-channel go-to-market strategy that includes direct-to-consumer sales through its existing GFIT Wellness network, partnerships with supplement and health food stores, and placement in restaurants, cafés, bars, and concert venues.

Beyond product sales, the founders envision Healthy Sips as part of a broader movement — one that promotes social connection, wellness, and inclusivity without alcohol.

“We want people to feel good seven days a week,” says Orellana. “You can still be social, still celebrate, still go out — without sacrificing your health.”

Looking Ahead

For Healthy Sips, ElevateIP has been a critical step in transforming an idea into a protected, market-ready innovation.

By pairing health-driven product development with a thoughtful IP strategy, the company is positioning itself to scale responsibly — protecting its innovation while contributing to a growing culture of wellness, moderation, and community.

As Orellana puts it, “ElevateIP is incredible. It’s the combination of entrepreneurial mentorship and legal guidance that helps founders avoid mistakes they would regret later.”