糖心视频

糖心视频 alumna Dr. Ashley Hunt-Poole has transformed a pandemic-inspired idea into a nationally distributed brand, expanding her alcohol-free wine company into Walmart and Sam's Club stores across multiple states while exemplifying the Bulldog spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Hunt-Poole, a three-time Alabama A&M graduate and founder of , recently shared updates on the company's growth since partnering with Sam's Club in 2024. What began as Mocktails for Mommy before evolving into HELLO MAM脕 Wine and now HELLO MAM脕, has grown from a kitchen experiment during pregnancy into Alabama's first Black woman-owned alcohol-free wine and beverage brand.

The idea was born in 2020 while Hunt-Poole was pregnant and searching for high-quality nonalcoholic beverage options.

鈥淎t that time, I couldn鈥檛 drink, so while I was at home, I was like, 鈥極K, how can I mimic a margarita?鈥欌�� Hunt-Poole said. 鈥淲hen I taste a margarita, I taste that lime and that strawberry. I tried to take fresh fruits and create drinks to make them taste as close as possible to a regular margarita. I was literally in my kitchen coming up with these concoctions, and it spawned from there.鈥�

After refining her recipes, Hunt-Poole turned to social media to share her creations and educate consumers about alcohol-free alternatives.

鈥淚 started doing and videos just showing people how to make mocktails from the comfort of their homes,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hose videos kind of sparked me to creating my own beverage company.鈥�

Today, HELLO MAM脕 products are available in Sam鈥檚 Club locations throughout Alabama, Arkansas and Louisiana, while the brand has expanded into Walmart stores across Alabama, Texas, Mississippi, Maryland, New Jersey, Florida, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, California and additional states.

鈥淪eeing my wine officially in Sam鈥檚 Club means the world to me,鈥� said Hunt-Poole. 鈥淚t proves that you can start something and, as long as you have tenacity and dedication, you can achieve anything.鈥�

A native of St. Louis, Hunt-Poole credits Alabama A&M with helping shape the foundation for her success. She earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in liberal arts with a concentration in music in 2017, a master鈥檚 degree in family and consumer sciences in 2019 and a second master鈥檚 degree in engineering with a concentration in systems and materials science in 2020. She later earned a doctorate in healthcare administration from Virginia University of Lynchburg in 2022.

The company's growth has mirrored changes in Hunt-Poole's personal life. Since the University's last feature on her journey, she and her husband, fellow Alabama A&M alumnus Robert Poole, have welcomed their youngest child, Donovan, who joins siblings Jeremy, 13, and Elaina, 5.

鈥淥ur family has grown right alongside our business," Hunt-Poole said. 鈥淓verything we do is centered around creating a legacy for our children and showing them what's possible through hard work, faith and consistency.鈥�

That commitment to family has also inspired the company鈥檚 broader mission. Earlier this year, Hunt-Poole announced HELLO MAM脕鈥檚 evolution into a lifestyle brand focused on supporting mothers through every stage of life. The shift was influenced by her own experience with postpartum preeclampsia following the birth of her youngest child.

鈥淕oing through that experience opened my eyes to how important it is to support mothers beyond pregnancy,鈥� she said. 鈥淗ELLO MAM脕 is about celebrating motherhood, but it鈥檚 also about creating conversations around maternal health and wellness.鈥�

As part of that effort, HELLO MAM脕 partnered with the to help raise awareness about preeclampsia and maternal health issues affecting women and families nationwide.

Hunt-Poole has also expanded her visibility through media appearances and reality television, including participation in a series following Huntsville-area businesswomen as they balance entrepreneurship and family life.

Despite the company's rapid growth, Hunt-Poole said the next chapter is just beginning. She is working to secure placement with additional retailers, expand the company's flavor offerings and introduce canned beverage products. She also serves as a paid influencer for , promoting opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

鈥淲e knew expanding into additional states wasn鈥檛 going to be easy,鈥� Hunt-Poole said. 鈥淏ut we also knew it could be done. With dedication, community support and keeping family at the center of everything we do, we believed we would continue to grow.鈥�

She hopes her journey encourages current and future Bulldogs to pursue ambitious goals of their own.

鈥淣o dream is too far out of reach when you have faith, determination and a strong support system," Hunt-Poole said. "That's something I learned at Alabama A&M, and it's something I hope the next generation of Bulldogs carries forward.鈥�