EP.177/ THE ORIGINAL SOUTHSIDE
Raising the Bar: Redefining Ready-to-Drink Cocktails with The Original Southside
In this episode of Retention Chronicles, Mariah sits down with Meredith Mills-Merritt, founder and CEO of The Original Southside, a spirit-based, certified organic ready-to-drink cocktail built to challenge the status quo of the alcohol industry .
Meredith shares how a family summer recipe evolved into a fast-growing CPG brand, why the RTD category is more confusing than consumers realize, and how ingredient transparency became her competitive edge. We unpack the difference between malt-based beverages and true spirit-based cocktails, the realities of launching in a saturated but growing category, and what it takes to build brand trust in a three-tier distribution system.
We also dive into:
Why education-first marketing is her primary acquisition strategy
How organic social and in-store tastings drive early traction
What retention looks like across DTC and retail
Why customer experience matters even more in a high-friction shipping category
The two unexpected consumer cohorts fueling growth
If you’re building in CPG, navigating restricted goods, or thinking about how to balance brand awareness with retention, this episode is a masterclass in patience, precision, and raising the bar.
EP. 177
MEREDITH MILLS-MERRITT
