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.
Who are the key retail buyers and contacts to target for UK drinks listings, and how responsive are they?
Finding and contacting major UK retail buyers is challenging—many are notoriously unresponsive to outreach. Members have identified several buyers worth targeting, though persistence and alternative contact methods may be needed. **Key contacts members have named:** - **Dawn Davies** — Whisky Exchange / Specialty Drinks - **Nick Bell** — Harvey Nichols - **Nick Flemming** — Harrods - **John Vine** — Waitrose - **Chris Appleby** — Enoteca (reported as good to deal with) - **Alice Fishman** — Previously assistant buyer at Wholefoods (though members report she is unresponsive) **Caveats and warnings:** - Many major retail buyers are "literally uncontactable" and do not respond to email outreach (members reported sending multiple emails with no reply). - Waitrose and Wholefoods buyers in particular have been flagged as difficult to reach; one member joked about extreme persistence tactics. - The group expressed frustration that some buyers operate as if "they wouldn't survive in the brutal world of entrepreneurship." - Chris Appleby at Enoteca is one of the few explicitly noted as responsive and good to deal with, suggesting he may be an easier entry point. Members did not provide specific listing requirements, onboarding processes, or minimum order thresholds in the excerpts.
What are the key contacts at major retail groups and what recent management changes have occurred?
The community has shared specific contacts within major retailers, though most introductions happen via direct member DMs rather than public listings. **Specific contacts and updates shared:** - **Nectar**: Members have contacts within the buying team and can facilitate introductions on request - **Ocado RTD buyer**: Christian Streatfield previously held this role but has moved on; the community is actively identifying his replacement - **Imbibe Live**: Members are connected with sales contacts at this event **How the community approaches this:** - Members request introductions publicly in the group chat, then connect privately via DM - When management changes occur (e.g. someone moving roles or being reassigned to different categories), members flag these in the chat so others are aware - The network treats retail contacts as a shared resource—members with relationships offer to ask their contacts on behalf of others or facilitate direct introductions **Caveats:** Contact information changes frequently as people move roles. It's worth checking directly with active members before relying on older contact names, as out-of-office messages and role changes can mean outdated information spreads quickly.
Which wholesalers supply major restaurant groups like JKS Restaurants, and what is their buying structure?
For restaurant groups like JKS Restaurants, members identified several key wholesalers that supply them: - **Venus** — listed as a supplier to major restaurant groups - **Amathus** — supplies restaurant groups; noted as a wholesaler option - **Enotria** — supplies restaurant groups - **Speciality** — believed to supply restaurant groups Members noted that some restaurant groups with multiple brands (like JKS) can bypass wholesalers and buy direct through a central purchasing unit, which may offer better pricing and terms. The discussion suggests checking whether target accounts have centralised buying across all their brands or split buyers per concept, as this affects approach and negotiation structure.