benny

Benny is a Canadian wellness-driven energy drink brand co-founded by Paige Cey and Julie Letizia in 2021. The company emerged from the founders' time at the University of Victoria, where they bonded over a shared commitment to wellness and the frustration of relying on traditional energy drinks loaded with excessive caffeine and artificial additives. The turning point came when Letizia experienced exercise-induced anaphylaxis and discovered that cutting excess caffeine from her diet dramatically improved her health—sparking the idea for a better energy drink.

Benny differentiates itself through naturopathic doctor formulation: each can delivers 85 mg of caffeine from yerba mate tea—a gentler, sustained boost compared to synthetic sources—combined with a proprietary adaptogen blend of lion's mane, reishi, and ginseng. The brand targets "caffeine-conscious" consumers, primarily young women aged 18 to 35 who want energy without jitters or crashes.

Bootstrapped with a $25,000 bank loan, Cey and Letizia formulated the first batches in Letizia's kitchen and sold their first cans out of the trunk of a car. Within two years, Benny reached profitability and expanded to over 1,000 stores across Canada. The brand's breakthrough came with a nationwide Target launch in late 2024, followed by full-store rollout in January 2025. Benny has been recognized on Forbes' 2026 30 Under 30 list in Food & Drink and earned Paige Cey a spot as a 2025 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards Ones to Watch finalist.