Entrepreneurs Bring Healthier Soda to Bryn Mawr Restaurants

When restaurateurs Pete Howey and Aaron Nocks were opening a location in New Hope, Bucks County, a little more than two years ago, they wanted to offer higher-quality drinks to match the caliber of the food.

“It seems like in the last 10 years, the level of quick-service food has elevated,” Howey said. “On the food side, that’s taken hold; on the drink side, it has not.”

The two own the Rosemont , and in Wayne, among others. In the roughly 17 years the two have been in the food business, no one ever solicits them with new beverages, Howey said, but they come with food samples all the time. 

“There really wasn’t an easy solution out there,” Howey said.

But Howey and Nocks saw a need for healthier beverage options—lower calorie fountain drinks flavored with cane sugar or fruit juices instead of the high-fructose corn syrup and phosphoric acid. 

The pair looked into a few natural beverage companies in Colorado and California. They also found that at restaurants offering similar products, about 30 percent of the Yelp reviews at least mentioned the fountain sodas. 

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“Where it’s been tested, even if the people had a bad food experience, they commented on the drinks,” Howey said.

Howey and Nocks had the benefit of testing New Hope fountain sodas in their local restaurants, first at the Rosemont Peace A Pizza. They saw a similarly good response there. 

Now, New Hope Fountain Soda is also offered at ,  and McCloskey’s in Ardmore and the Couch Tomato in Manayunk. They also have a New Hope Fountain truck—similar to the concept behind Red Bull—to give free samples at special events, and to travel to schools, Howey said.

The soda is limited to the Philadelphia market now since the equipment for the business is service-intensive; they couldn't provide that for restaurants farther away. But with businesses as far away as California, Texas and Florida expressing interest in their product, Howey can tell there is not a lot of market saturation.

The soda end of the business has become a significant focus for Howey. Nocks focuses more on the Peace A Pizza, Howey said, and they divide tasks. They also have an advisory board that helps them define the direction of New Hope and keep them focused.

New Hope has about a dozen different flavors (including cola, Italian lemon, cream soda and pomegranate), as well as seasonal flavors and flavors for special occasions. For example, Gullifty’s just switched out a summery watermelon in favor of a more autumnal green apple. Haverford College recently asked for its own flavor, and New Hope created a pomegranate acai flavor called “Duck Pond Water”.

“Getting your drink is usually so routine,” Howey said. “You get your cup, and it’s not a memorable part of the experience. But this is a way to draw people in. Some people come in now just to get a beverage.”