Wendy Lazo
Isabelle Currie
Landon Ali
Shuo Yao
University of Guelph
Ruben Burga
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Hitchhiker Beverage Company sells nine flavors of lemonade and added an iced tea line in 2016 which includes three flavors. All of their beverages are crafted with 100% all-natural ingredients. The mother/daughter company founders pride themselves on maintaining a simple recipe of four or five ingredients per flavor which they try to source locally when possible. This helps to ensure improved nutrition for every customer.
Hitchhiker Beverage Company is committed to a preservative and additive- free recipe which they are able to achieve by using a heat pasteurization method which gives the product a two-year shelf life. Their simple recipes produce no waste and each batch contains all of the raw materials purchased for that specific run.
Additionally, all Hitchhiker beverages are sold in 473 ml glass bottles with tin lids and paper labels. All bottle packaging is completely recyclable. The company is able to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns in addition to achieving food security and improved nutrition through the ingredients they use.
Hitchhiker Beverage Company is a mother/daughter founded and owned company based just outside of Guelph, Ontario. The beverage company was born from their grandmother’s lemonade recipe from the late 1800s. In 2013, the mother/daughter duo started a roadside grill business where they sold the original lemonade by the glass. Due to the high degree of popularity of the lemonade at the grill and the duos entrepreneurial drive, the pair decided to take things a step further and commercially bottle and sell their lemonade.
The beverage company was founded in late 2014 with the first shipment of six flavors arriving in June 2015. Their beverages are now sold in over 500 locations all across Ontario. Customer feedback has been nothing but positive, based on continuous consumer demand for more.
Hitchhiker Beverage Company has benefited from their family tradition by sharing passionately crafted, all-natural beverages. Hitchhiker Beverage Company has much to be proud of, with an approximate 95% waste-free production method and 100% all-natural products. Not only have their products benefitted the environment by causing very little harm, but they have benefitted society through delicious, all-natural, comforting beverages that consumers can feel good about purchasing.
The mother/daughter duo has always had an entrepreneurial edge, so when the lemonade was successful at their grill, they were able to undertake further entrepreneurial ventures through the product. By selling their beverages, the pair have been able to share a family treasure through an all-natural recipe with little to no environmental cost. The company has also been able to donate and volunteer with local charities which is highly important to the founders.
On Society
Hitchhiker all-natural beverages make consumers feel good about their purchase, providing a sense of “nostalgia and comfort” through a classic recipe. Their all-natural products end up costing more to produce than their competitors but the company is committed to only sell beverages made with “100% all-natural ingredients containing no artificial preservatives, sweeteners, or colors.” In addition, Hitchhiker Beverage Company has been able to donate to charities and fundraisers in their community and throughout the GTA.
On the Environment
The beverages are all made from simple recipes and 100% all-natural ingredients, no artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners. The products are sold in recyclable packaging including glass bottles, tin lids, and paper labels. When a tray of the beverages is purchased at the wholesale or retail level, purchasers can recycle or reuse the recycled cardboard tray. The plastic wrap used on the 12 pack trays can also be placed into recycle containers. All of these materials can be recycled responsibly. In terms of production, there is little to no waste associated with the product. The drums and packaging in which the raw materials arrive are re-used or responsibly recycled. The drum liners are recycled as are the cane sugar paper bags. The only waste involved in Hitchhikers’ beverage production are the cleaning products used in the factory which are required by health and safety legislation. Overall, Hitchhiker Beverage Company has little to no impact on the environment.
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Leanne McPhail, Co-owner
Hitchhiker Beverage Company sells a variety of handmade and all-natural lemonades and iced teas. The company reduces waste through its production process, as well as its consumers’ ability to recycle their products. The company is based in Guelph, Ontario and its products can now be found in many parts of Ontario.