Happie Beverages: Pete Olander on Building a Category, Navigating Regulation & Functional Drinks

On this episode of Ready To Drink Podcast, I sit down with Pete Olander, founder of Happie Beverages, for one of the most candid and grounded conversations we’ve had on the show. Pete walks through the early spark that launched Happie, the years he spent in nutrition and regulated cannabis, and the unexpected realities of building a beverage company from scratch in an industry that shifts under your feet.

We get into the origin story of both lines under the Happie umbrella - the THC beverages built on clean labels and tight compliance, and the functional mushroom line that’s now gaining national traction. Pete also talks openly about regulatory turbulence, why structure is an opportunity rather than a threat, and how founders can stay steady in moments that would shake most people out of the game.

From California’s regulated market to national e-commerce, from formulation work to distribution partnerships, and from the entrepreneurial grind to the role of culture and family in shaping a brand - this is a deep look at what it really takes to build a company that lasts.
If you’re a beverage founder, investor, retailer, or someone following the rise of functional and THC beverages, this is an important episode.

New episodes of Ready To Drink Podcast roll out weekly, featuring the founders, makers, operators, and innovators shaping the future of beverages.

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