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Hiyo Goes National at Target: What the Non-Alcoholic Tonic Boom Means for Liquor Retailers Considering an NA Section

By Intentionally CreativeMarch 26, 202611 min read
Listen to this article13:29
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TL;DR

The NA category is nearing $1B. Here's what Hiyo's Target launch means for your non-alcoholic section liquor store strategy — and how to profit from the trend.

  • What Is Hiyo and Why Does This Target Launch Matter?
  • When Mass Retail Validates a Category, Independent Retailers Feel It
  • Who's Actually Buying NA Beverages?
  • What Other Retailers Are Already Doing (And Where Grocers Are Falling Short)
  • Why a Non-Alcoholic Section Makes Strategic Sense for Your Liquor Store

A non-alcoholic tonic brand just landed in every Target in America. Not a handful of test markets. Not a limited seasonal run. Every. Single. Store. [VERIFY: Confirm Hiyo's rollout covers all ~1,950 Target locations, not a large partial rollout.]

If you're a liquor retailer who's been watching the NA category from the sidelines, the starting gun already went off.

Here's the thing: this isn't really about Hiyo. It's about what happens when the largest mass retailer in the country decides a category is worth betting on at scale. It means consumer demand has crossed a threshold that even the most cautious buyer can't ignore. And it means the customers walking into your store this weekend have a new set of expectations. The question isn't whether adding a non-alcoholic section to your liquor store makes sense anymore. The question is whether you'll capture this demand — or cede it to Target, Amazon, and the grocery chain down the street.

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In this piece, we're breaking down the data behind the NA boom, what smart retailers are already doing, and exactly how to build a non-alcoholic section that actually drives revenue.

What Is Hiyo and Why Does This Target Launch Matter?

Hiyo is a non-alcoholic tonic brand built around adaptogens and nootropics — functional ingredients like ashwagandha, L-theanine, and lion's mane in a can that looks like it belongs on a bar cart. These are premium social drinks designed to replace cocktails, not with watered-down mocktails, but with ingredients that actually do something.

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This isn't a niche health food store placement. This is Target betting real shelf space — in every single store — on the NA beverages category. And when you look at the numbers, it's hard to argue with the bet.

According to NielsenIQ, the U.S. non-alcoholic drinks category hit $925 million in trailing-year sales, up 22% year-over-year. [VERIFY: Confirm this is the most current NielsenIQ figure and reporting period.] At that pace, the category is on track to surpass $1 billion by the end of 2025. NielsenIQ has specifically called this "a billion-dollar movement" — language that deliberately separates it from niche fad territory. [VERIFY: Confirm NielsenIQ used this exact phrase and its original context.]

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Meanwhile, global alcohol consumption declined in the same period. [VERIFY: The 1% decline figure needs a confirmed source and time period — IWSR 2023–2024 data is the likely origin.] This isn't just category addition. It's a two-directional shift: NA is expanding as traditional alcohol contracts.

Hiyo's nationwide Target launch isn't just a brand story. It's a category signal.

When Mass Retail Validates a Category, Independent Retailers Feel It

Here's the tension every independent liquor store owner should be sitting with right now: Target's move is going to drive massive consumer awareness for non-alcoholic beverages — and that's genuinely good for everyone selling them. But it also raises the stakes. Customers who discover NA drinks at Target will start expecting to find a non-alcoholic section in their liquor store, too.

If you don't have one yet, you're not behind — but the window for being early is closing fast.

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Who's Actually Buying NA Beverages?

Millennials and younger consumers are driving the bulk of the shift, but the buyer profile is widening fast. Sober-curious drinkers. Health-conscious shoppers. Moderation-minded customers who still want a Friday night ritual — just without the hangover. These groups overlap more than you'd think, and they're all showing up with spending power.

What's particularly relevant for independent retailers: Forbes reports these consumers are "actively seeking elevated NA beverages." They want craft-quality, interesting products — not dusty bottles of O'Doul's tucked behind the cooler. That premiumization trend aligns perfectly with what liquor stores already do well. You curate. You recommend. You merchandise with intention.

That's exactly the kind of experience a well-built NA section can deliver — if you give the category real shelf space and real attention.

What Other Retailers Are Already Doing (And Where Grocers Are Falling Short)

The data makes the case. But what does action actually look like? You don't need to be an early adopter here. You just need to not be last.

Liquor Retailers Leading the Way

Major players like Total Wine & More and Liquor World Las Vegas are already stocking and merchandising non-alcoholic options right alongside their core inventory. This isn't a pilot program — it's shelf space, signage, and sales happening right now. These retailers recognized the trend early and built dedicated sections that treat NA products with the same credibility as their alcoholic counterparts.

Dedicated NA Shops Are Proving the Demand

If you need more proof, look at e-commerce. Dedicated NA bottle shops like The Zero Proof (carrying 30+ brands), No & Low, and ProofNoMore are thriving as standalone businesses — built entirely around non-alcoholic beverages. Entire companies are surviving and growing on this category alone. That tells you something about the depth of consumer interest.

Why a Non-Alcoholic Section Makes Strategic Sense for Your Liquor Store

Knowing what competitors are doing is useful. But the real question is whether this move makes sense for your business. Let's address the elephant in the room: you sell alcohol. Why would you dedicate shelf space to products that don't contain any?

Because the math says you should — and your bottom line will agree.

You're Not Replacing Alcohol — You're Expanding Your Customer Base

Here's the objection we hear most: "Won't NA products cannibalize my alcohol sales?" No. The moderation shopper is real, and they're not choosing one or the other. They're building a home bar that covers every occasion — weeknight wind-downs, Dry January, designated driver nights, pregnant partners, health-conscious weekends.

These customers are incremental. Many wouldn't have walked into your store otherwise. Others are existing buyers adding NA products to a mixed cart. A thoughtfully built non-alcoholic section in your liquor store doesn't shrink your pie — it adds new slices.

The Premiumization Angle Works in Your Favor

Premium NA spirits, tonics, and wines carry margins that are often comparable to or better than mid-shelf alcohol. These aren't loss leaders. They're profit contributors sitting in a category with almost zero competition on your block.

A curated NA section also signals something powerful: your store is modern, knowledgeable, and paying attention. That brand perception lifts everything you sell.

And here's where the Hiyo-at-Target dynamic works for you. Mass retail builds category awareness. But the customers who want better selection and staff who actually know the difference between adaptogenic tonics and sparkling water? They'll seek out a specialty retailer. Make sure that's you.

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How to Build a Non-Alcoholic Section That Actually Sells

Convinced the opportunity is real? Good. Now let's talk execution. A non-alcoholic section only works if you build it with the same discipline you'd bring to any revenue-generating category. Here's how to do it right.

Start Small and Curate Intentionally

You don't need 30+ brands on day one — curation beats clutter every time. Start with 8–15 SKUs spread across the key subcategories: NA spirits (gin, whiskey, and tequila alternatives), NA wines, NA beers beyond the legacy light brands, and functional/tonic beverages like Hiyo.

This mirrors what's driving the broader trend — variety within reason. Give customers enough to explore without overwhelming a category many of them are just discovering.

Merchandising Tips That Drive Discovery

Give the section its own dedicated space with clear signage. Don't scatter NA products across existing alcohol categories. A defined section makes the category shoppable and signals to customers you take it seriously.

Place it near your entrance or in a high-traffic transition zone — not buried behind the walk-in cooler. Visibility drives trial. Use endcaps or feature displays for seasonal pushes like Dry January or summer entertaining, when NA sales tend to spike hardest.

Cross-merchandise where it makes sense: NA tonics near your mixers, NA wines adjacent to your wine section. Add shelf talkers that explain what each product is and how it tastes. Many shoppers are brand-new to the category and need that guidance to convert.

Staff Education Is Non-Negotiable

Your team needs to speak about NA products with the same confidence they'd bring to recommending a bourbon. What does it taste like? Who's it for? How's it made? That knowledge builds trust and drives conversion — especially in a category this new to most consumers.

A
Alden Morris
Founder & Principal Strategist, Intentionally Creative

10+ years helping liquor retailers and beverage brands grow through data-driven digital marketing. Learn more

Table of Contents
  1. 01What Is Hiyo and Why Does This Target Launch Matter?
  2. 02When Mass Retail Validates a Category, Independent Retailers Feel It
  3. 03Who's Actually Buying NA Beverages?
  4. 04What Other Retailers Are Already Doing (And Where Grocers Are Falling Short)
  5. 05Why a Non-Alcoholic Section Makes Strategic Sense for Your Liquor Store
  6. 06How to Build a Non-Alcoholic Section That Actually Sells
  7. 07How to Get the Word Out
  8. 08The Bottom Line: The NA Boom Isn't Coming — It's Here

See how one independent liquor store used Instagram Reels marketing to boost weekend foot traffic by 40%. Real tactics, real numbers, no fluff.

Grocers Are "Missing the Party" — Your Opportunity

Here's where it gets interesting for you. A retail trade article specifically called out grocery chains for "missing the party" on nonalcoholic drinks — poor merchandising, buried placement, zero curation. [VERIFY: Confirm the source and publication date of this article. An "October 2025" date would be in the future if this post publishes before then.]

That grocery gap is your window.

You already have what grocers don't: beverage expertise, credibility with drink-focused shoppers, and a store layout built for discovery. Adding a non-alcoholic section to your liquor store isn't a stretch — it's a natural extension of what you do. And with Hiyo hitting Target shelves nationally, consumer awareness is surging into mainstream territory.

If you merchandise NA well before your local grocery competitors figure it out, you become the destination for the full spectrum of beverage shoppers in your market. That's not just a nice-to-have. That's a competitive moat.

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Train them. Let them taste the products. Make it part of your regular staff education.

Finally, track velocity by SKU from week one. Give products 60–90 days to find their audience, then cut what's not moving and rotate in new options. This isn't a charity shelf — it's a growth category. Treat it that way: data-driven decisions, not gut feelings.

How to Get the Word Out

A great section that nobody knows about is just expensive decoration. You've built the non-alcoholic section — now make sure people actually find it.

Use Your Existing Channels to Announce the Launch

Treat your NA launch like a store event, not a quiet shelf rearrangement. Send a dedicated email blast introducing your curated NA picks. Post an Instagram Reel walking through the new section. Update your in-store signage. These low-cost moves drive immediate foot traffic.

Here's a timely angle: use the Hiyo-at-Target news as your hook. Something like "You've seen NA tonics at Target — come try the full range at [Your Store Name]" leverages mass-market awareness to pull customers into your specialty retail experience.

Also, partner with NA brands for in-store tastings. Companies like Hiyo, Athletic Brewing, and Ritual Zero Proof often have co-marketing budgets specifically for independent retail activations.

Content and Social Media Angles That Work

Lean into educational content. Posts like "What does non-alcoholic gin actually taste like?" or "Best NA drinks for a summer barbecue" position your store as the local authority on this fast-growing category.

Tag NA brands in your posts. The community is active, supportive, and will amplify retailers who champion the category.

The Bottom Line: The NA Boom Isn't Coming — It's Here

Let's recap what we're looking at: a category approaching $1 billion in annual sales, growing faster than almost any other segment in beverage retail. Mass retailers like Target are validating the trend with national rollouts. Global alcohol consumption is softening. Younger consumers are drinking less — and spending more when they do buy NA.

And most grocers? They're still sticking functional beverages next to the kombucha and hoping for the best.

You don't need to tear up your floor plan tomorrow. Start with a curated non-alcoholic section in your liquor store — even a single four-foot shelf. Train your staff on the top sellers. Market it intentionally. Then let the sales data tell you when to expand.

The retailers who move now, while competitors are still debating whether NA even makes sense, will own this category locally. First-mover advantage is real, and the window won't stay open forever.

Ready to make the most of it? Intentionally Creative works with independent liquor retailers who want to grow smarter — not just louder. Whether you're launching an NA section or leveling up your entire marketing strategy, let's talk ↗.

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