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 should be included in due diligence procedures and AWRS licensing interview preparation for contract brewers?
Members preparing for AWRS licensing interviews emphasise that due diligence goes beyond simply checking that your contract brewing partner has paid duty. Here's what the community recommends: **Getting interview-ready:** - **Have a written due diligence policy in place** — this is described as "the key thing" by members who've recently completed interviews. Several members note that retailers' policies follow a similar template; asking existing members to share theirs can help you develop one quickly. - **Connect with experienced practitioners beforehand** — members recommend speaking with people who've recently gone through the interview (such as those who've worked with the LBA, the Licensing Body for Alcohol) to understand what questions to expect and how to present your process. **Due diligence scope for contract brewers:** - Verification that your contract brewing partner has paid duty is a starting point, but members indicate "much more is needed" - Your policy should document the due diligence you've conducted on your contract partner(s) — their compliance track record, financial standing, and operational controls - Written procedures demonstrating how you'll monitor and verify ongoing compliance **Caveat:** One member explicitly notes "#notalaywer", so while this reflects community experience, professional advice from a licensing specialist is recommended for your specific circumstances.
Are there legitimate distributors in Southeast Asia and China for UK spirits brands, and how should you vet them?
Unsolicited distribution enquiries from lesser-known firms in the region warrant careful vetting before committing. Members have received outreach from firms like **LaLa Wine** (claiming representation in Vietnam, Singapore, Dubai, and China as part of LLMH GROUP), but recommend skepticism even when websites and email addresses appear legitimate. **Key vetting steps:** Request a video introduction call rather than email-only contact; consult your board advisors and industry contacts in the region to verify their track record and reputation—several members found that established advisors had no knowledge of certain firms despite their professional appearance. Members noted concerns with **Charles Durango at OPC Ventures** and chose not to pursue after initial conversations. The lesson: legitimate-looking credentials don't guarantee genuine business relationships or market presence in Asia.
How can I identify red flags when vetting potential distributors in Southeast Asia?
Members recently investigated **LalaWine (Global Beverages)** operating in Singapore and Vietnam after the company approached them, and identified multiple warning signs that led them to conclude it was likely not a legitimate business partner. Key red flags members identified: - **Website credibility**: New website with broken links and non-functional pages; inability to purchase products through the online shop - **Physical presence**: Shop location does not appear on Google Street View, suggesting it may not exist - **Sponsorships and claims**: Claimed sponsorships (e.g. golf events) do not appear to exist when verified - **Communication style**: Reluctance to get on calls; repetitive, copy-paste email responses rather than direct engagement - **Social media authenticity**: Same person liking all their Facebook posts, suggesting artificial engagement - **Company information**: No verifiable information about the company exists when searching online Members' advice was to keep clear of this distributor. The collective recommendation is to verify physical location, check website functionality and credibility, research claimed partnerships independently, and assess whether potential distributors are willing to engage in direct conversation rather than templated responses.
How do you vet incoming enquiries from distributors and buyers to identify potential scams and fraudulent operations?
Members recommend treating unsolicited stock enquiries with caution and using simple due-diligence checks before engaging. **Domain registration checks** — When you receive a random email from someone claiming to represent a distributor or buyer, verify their legitimacy using **whois.domaintools.com** (or similar WHOIS lookup sites). Check: - How old the domain registration is (genuine companies typically have registrations many years old; scams often register days or weeks prior) - Whether the registrant contact email matches the company's official domain (e.g. a legitimate company should have corporate email, not generic providers like GoDaddy's auto-generated contact info) - Whether the domain registration country matches the company's stated location — mismatches can signal fraud **Real-world example from the community:** A fake "Emirates Flight Catering" enquiry circulated in the group. Investigation revealed the domain was registered just 26 days prior with a generic GoDaddy contact email, whereas the legitimate emiratesflightcatering domain (emiratesflightcatering.com) is 10,000+ days old with proper Emirates corporate email links. This discrepancy flagged it as a scam. **Distributor verification** — Ask your existing trusted contacts in-market (e.g. current distributors in the target region) to verify the company's legitimacy before committing stock. Members have warned that these scams do circulate and it's worth sharing intelligence within the community when you spot one.
How should international distributors in developing markets like India be vetted, and what red flags should we watch for?
Vetting distributors in India requires careful due diligence but members warn the market is high-risk. **Start with LinkedIn verification** — check that the company and key contacts have legitimate profiles and verifiable history. **Ask your existing Indian contacts** for references and background checks; personal networks are more reliable than online searches alone. **Request a video call** to assess professionalism and legitimacy before committing. Members flagged critical pitfalls: even apparently legitimate importers often have minimal online presence, which is common but makes verification harder. More importantly, **expect aggressive cost-cutting pressure** — distributors typically spend significant time negotiating your cost price down to unsustainable levels, then drag out negotiations for months only to abandon the deal. **Be wary of time-wasting chancers**, which members describe as prevalent in the Indian market. One experienced member recommended steering clear of India altogether due to the combination of verification difficulty and poor deal outcomes, though this reflects individual risk tolerance rather than universal advice.