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 recruitment agencies and strategies do Kindred members recommend for hiring drinks industry roles, and what are typical salary expectations?
## Recruitment Agencies & Contacts Members recommend several agencies with drinks industry experience: - **Marvel** — Jake Merrick-Wren recommended for recruitment - **Young Foodies** — praised for mid-level recruitment services - **CORE** — recommended for on-trade recruitment - **New Chapter** — Emma Forster (emma.forster@newchapter.co.uk) highly rated for on-trade hospitality experience - **Seven** — Lucy McMullan recommended - **The Advocate Group** — Kayleigh works with them ## Sales & Event Staff For on-trade sales roles at mid-level, members suggest: - **Fusion** and **VinoKelly** — both supply on-trade sales staff; contact Gareth or Elizabeth on +447789915197 (VinoKelly) - **Poaching ex wine or spirits sales people** — suggested as a direct sourcing strategy - For event-based sales staff (e.g., promotional events), members noted they have direct connections and recommended reaching out to the community via DM ## Salary Expectations For an operations manager with drinks industry experience (managing whisky cask, bottling planning, inventory), members suggested **£60k as a starting point**, though this varies significantly by location and operation size. Members recommended checking job listing sites like Grocer for current market rates specific to your region. ## Caveat Members noted that recruitment agencies in the drinks industry are "costly and in need of serious disruption," so budget accordingly.
Which business energy suppliers do members recommend for hospitality and on-trade premises?
Finding an energy supplier willing to work with hospitality venues can be challenging, though the market has improved. Members recommend: - **Octopus Energy** — praised as the go-to choice for several members. Easy to deal with, offers a solid back-of-house system to check readings, bills, and tariffs. - **YU** — used by members at bar premises. Caveats: **Avoid Valda** — one member reported a severe experience, describing it as a "Kafkaesque nightmare" where the supplier attempted to overcharge by £10,000. When last renewing, supplier availability for hospitality businesses was limited, though members expect this to have improved.
What booking management software do members recommend for tour-focused businesses and hospitality venues?
Members recommend different solutions depending on venue type. For tour-focused businesses, **Fare Harbour** is highly praised for onboarding ease, intuitive interface, and flexible pricing (members have negotiated deals with no charges, just a small percentage per booking). For hospitality venues, **Stampede** is recommended as an all-in-one fee solution—priced similarly to competitors but without per-cover charges. One member noted they moved to Stampede from a per-cover model and found it better value. Note: Fare Harbour users specifically mentioned it works well for distillery tours and similar experiences, though one member cautioned they couldn't comment on its usefulness in traditional hospitality venues.