The News
Baie, a 5% alcoholic soda brand developed by Mauritius-based company Grand Baie Drinks Co. Ltd (GBDC) in collaboration with Vaulbert, won two gold medals at the 2026 Spirits Business Awards for its Piña Colada and Pamplemousse flavors in the Pre-Mixed, Ready-To-Drink category. The awards were among four golds given to global entries, with Baie being one of only two winners in this category. GBDC co-founder Millie Dolan, who moved to Mauritius in 2024 from New Zealand, said the recognition validates the product's quality and Mauritian innovation.
Baie, a Mauritius‑based brand that recently earned two gold medals at the Spirits Business Awards, is now turning distributors’ and retailers’ attention toward low‑calorie hard seltzers in an already crowded ready‑to‑drink market.
Grand Baie Drinks Co. launched Baie last December with distributor Vaulbert. The launch comes as Mauritius’ beverage sector—worth about USD 360 million and growing at 8.2% CAGR through 2027—is increasingly favoring premium, health‑conscious drinks. Over two years the team has refined a low‑calorie, 5 % ABV blend that fits neatly into the better‑for‑you segment driving worldwide RTD expansion.
Baie earned its medals out of 78 entries in the Hard Seltzer Masters category. The award signals quality, but overall market dynamics temper enthusiasm. In 2023 US hard seltzers grew only 7.5%, and volume growth is plateauing as consumers shift toward lower‑alcohol, functional drinks. By contrast, the global RTD market should reach USD 21.2 billion by 2030 at a strong 13.4% CAGR. These figures suggest Baie’s strength lies in premium sub‑segments rather than chasing volume in an already crowded hard seltzer space.
The award also shapes channel strategy. Baie is sold only at Intermart, Winners, GSR, and London Way, reinforcing its boutique status. Distributors that carry Baie can use the medals to justify premium pricing and emphasize the low‑calorie profile that aligns with the global USD 6 billion low/no‑alcohol trend. Retailers might place Baie in health‑oriented aisles or as a lower‑alcohol alternative to traditional beers and spirits, tapping consumers who care about calories without sacrificing flavor.
Operationally, Grand Baie Drinks Co. and Vaulbert show how local innovation can be scaled via established FMCG channels that already serve Mauritius’ 360 million‑dollar beverage market. Emerging brands could follow this approach—create a differentiated low‑calorie formula and embed it within an existing retail footprint—to speed penetration without building new distribution infrastructure.
Baie’s two gold medals indicate more than a marketing win—they mark entry into Mauritius’ expanding premium beverage market, supported by a partnership that combines local flavor with global RTD momentum. Distributors and retailers should view low‑calorie hard seltzers as premium niche products capable of higher margins when positioned correctly in an increasingly health‑conscious retail environment.
Original Press Release
Mauritius-developed beverage brand Baie has won two gold medals at a prestigious international drinks competition.
Baie, a locally inspired range of 5% alcoholic sodas, received the top award for each of its flavours—Piña Colada and Pamplemousse—in the Pre-Mixed, Ready-To-Drink (RTD) and Hard Seltzer Masters category at the 2026 Spirits Business Awards.
The range is a collaborative venture between Mauritian beverage company Grand Baie Drinks Co. Ltd (GBDC) and FMCG distributor Vaulbert. GBDC is co-owned by Millie and Matt Dolan, who relocated in 2024 from Auckland, New Zealand—where Millie’s family has roots—to launch the business.
The awards attracted 78 entries from beverage brands around the world, with only four gold medals awarded in the category, two of which went to Baie.
GBDC co-founder Millie Dolan said the recognition validates both the quality of the product and reinforces Mauritian beverage innovators’ ability to compete at an international standard.
“We are incredibly proud to see Baie recognised on the global stage,” Dolan said.
“When we created the range, we did so in response to the enormous international growth of the low-sugar, low-calorie ready-to-drink and hard seltzer category, but with a distinctly Mauritian twist.
“It’s not easy to create a lighter-style alcoholic beverage that still delivers bold flavour and premium taste, and these awards prove we have achieved that.”
The beverages were developed over a two-year period alongside internationally experienced beverage specialists, with a focus on creating modern alcoholic drinks that appeal to the growing number of health-conscious consumers.
Dolan said the recognition places Baie alongside brands that have gone on to achieve major international commercial success.
“Many brands that have previously performed strongly in these awards have become globally successful, so this is an exciting moment for us and for what comes next for the brand.”
Henri Vaulbert, Managing Director of Vaulbert, said the awards demonstrate the ability of Mauritian businesses to innovate and compete internationally in emerging FMCG categories.
“Baie is a great example of what can happen when local market insight, strong product development, and ambitious brand thinking come together.
“We are proud to help bring a locally developed product of this calibre to market.”
Baie launched in Mauritius in December 2025 as the country’s first and only low-calorie alcoholic soda range and has positioned itself as a premium alternative within the fast-growing RTD category.
It is available in select Intermart, Winners, GSR, and London Way supermarkets across Mauritius.
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Source: BevNET