Building a Modern Water Brand: Mainelove’s CEO on Sustainability & Growth

What does it take to build and scale a modern beverage brand in today’s competitive market?

In this episode, Melissa Bill sits down with Jen Millard, CEO of Mainelove, to discuss her journey from leading roles at major companies to launching a fast-growing, sustainability-focused canned water business.

With a background that includes executive roles at Mastercard and Upside, as well as successful exits with brands like Bed Bath & Beyond and Dosh, Jen brings deep expertise in scaling consumer businesses. She also shares her a unique perspective on the evolving water and beverage industry.

After returning to her home state of Maine, Jen founded Mainelove with a mission to create a more sustainable alternative to bottled water, partnering with local brewers to produce water in highly recyclable aluminum cans while supporting regional economies.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Jen’s entrepreneurial journey and experience leading companies to successful exits
• Why she returned to Maine to launch Mainelove
• The rise of canned water and sustainable packaging
• How partnerships with local brewers help scale production and diversify revenue
• The growing trend toward reduced alcohol consumption and its impact on beverage choices
• How Mainelove expanded into 300+ retail locations and is scaling into new markets
• Key lessons in building and growing a consumer-packaged goods (CPG) brand

If you're interested in entrepreneurship, beverage startups, sustainability, or scaling a consumer brand, this episode offers practical insights and real-world experience from a seasoned founder.