Ask the Collective
The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
What is the process and cost structure for special event placements at major warehouse retailers?
Warehouse retailers typically use a Sale or Return (SOR) model for event placements—you supply stock but only pay for what actually sells, so there are no upfront placement fees. **Logistics and setup:** - Stock must be delivered on a full pallet for display purposes - Setup typically runs Thursday 7am through Sunday 9pm - You'll need to staff the display yourself throughout the event period - Selecting sites close to your location reduces travel burden **Key caveat:** This is physically demanding work requiring long hours on-site over the entire event weekend. Only commit if you have the capacity to staff the placement yourself.
How can I reduce delivery costs for pallet shipments into major retail chains like Waitrose?
Members recommend bypassing expensive LCB (presumably a logistics provider) delivery costs by using third-party pallet distribution providers for deliveries into major retail accounts. **Third-party pallet providers:** - **GC Distribution** — members report using them for daily deliveries into major retail chains. Contact: rob@gcdistributionltd.co.uk The approach is to maintain your own account with the retailer (e.g. Waitrose) but arrange independent logistics rather than using the retailer's preferred/mandated carrier, which typically charges premium rates. Members confirmed this works and offers meaningful cost savings versus going through the retailer's own logistics network.