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.
Where can we source synthetic wood-effect cork closures when facing supply shortages?
Members are experiencing cork supply constraints and have identified a key supplier to contact. **Rankin James** is recommended as a top-3 cork supplier and has been suggested as a starting point for sourcing synthetic wood-effect corks, including 19.5mm options. Members suggest reaching out to Rankin James first when facing availability issues, though no other specific alternative suppliers were named in the discussion. The community is actively problem-solving on this—if you have surplus stock (e.g. brown wood cork stoppers in specific dimensions), members are willing to buy from each other as a workaround during shortages.
What should you do if a distributor or co-packer suddenly shuts down or goes out of business?
This is a real risk in the drinks industry. Members who experienced unexpected closures (such as the Brittains Beverage situation) report it can be a major disruption to recover inventory. **What happened in practice:** - Members caught in the Brittains closure faced an "absolute nightmare" trying to recover liquid, boxes, capsules and other materials held at the facility - Recovery required "determination" and direct effort to retrieve goods; it was not straightforward or automatic - Some suppliers may have a significant proportion of bulk inventory stored at a single facility, creating concentration risk **Preventative steps members suggest:** - Before committing inventory or materials to a distributor or co-packer, understand their operational footprint and consolidation risks (e.g. whether they operate multiple sites that might be rationalised) - Consider requesting vetting help from the DBT (Drinks Business Trust), which maintains an accredited buyer list as a baseline check - Build relationships directly with your co-packer/distributor contacts so you have a personal channel to escalate if warning signs emerge **Caveats:** - Even with warning, recovery of goods is time-consuming and resource-intensive; there is no automatic process - Bulk inventory held at a single location (especially if it's a consolidation play) puts you at higher risk - No foolproof protection exists—the best approach is due diligence upfront and maintaining alternative supply chain routes where possible.
What are the realistic alternatives for glass bottle sourcing when major suppliers have stock issues or poor service?
Members report widespread stock shortages across major UK glass suppliers due to supply-chain disruption (including reduced production from Eastern European factories). Going bespoke is not a fast solution despite initial appearances. **UK stock suppliers:** - **Croxsons** — recommended as an off-the-shelf stock bottle source - **Allied** — another off-the-shelf option to approach when stock is tight - **Encirc** — mentioned but noted as primarily a bespoke/custom manufacturer, so may not solve immediate stock problems **China sourcing (not recommended):** Several members have tested Chinese glass imports as a backup but advise against it. Common issues include: heavy oily residue on bottles requiring machine washing before bottling, inconsistent quality control (fill levels, neck diameter variance), delayed shipping, and slow transit to UK. Cost savings are typically wiped out by necessary air freight to meet timelines. Members who tried this approach have since switched back to UK-only production. **Key caveat:** Major suppliers like Bruni and Savaglass are currently experiencing significant shortages and not being transparent about supply constraints. Members report these suppliers are rationing stock while trying to retain business relationships long-term.