Area company seizes on growing beverage category by bringing nonalcoholic Italian wines to U.S. market

Michael Yourison, the founder and CEO of Buonafide Foods, is on a mission to bring alcohol-free Italian wine to U.S. consumers. And he's had success so far, launching Buonafide 0.0 Alcohol Free Italian Wines in Whole Foods and Total Wine stores in Florida.

Now Yourison is determined to get the word out to more consumers and steadily expand distribution on a national scale. Sarasota-based Yourison has an extensive background in the food industry, including working in operations for Conagra; starting Easy Street Gourmet, a line of poultry, beef and pork products sold at specialty and natural retailers; and serving in vice president roles for other food businesses. Prior to starting Buonafide, he launched an organic Italian poultry brand.