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 for getting listed with major UK retail chains like Majestic, Waitrose, and Ocado?
Getting listed with major UK retailers requires a multi-step approach combining direct contact with buyers and grassroots validation. **Key contacts and routes:** - **Majestic** — Direct buyer contact: jacob.biggs@majestic.co.uk (note: neither this contact nor john.storm@majestic.co.uk are consistently responsive) - **Waitrose and Ocado** — Community members have experience but were seeking to share learnings on specific routing; no single universal contact shared - **Mitchells & Butlers venues** — Use **Tradeteam** as their distributor (partly direct access) **Recommended tactic:** Members report success by getting a dozen individual store managers to taste the product and provide feedback, then following this up with the central buying team. This grassroots validation appears to carry weight in conversations with buyers. **Caveats:** Direct buyer emails are often unresponsive; the grassroots store-level feedback loop is the more reliable entry point. Getting listed is challenging and retention is not guaranteed—some community members have been listed for many years and subsequently delisted.
What are the requirements and process for getting listed at major wine and spirits distributors like Amathus?
Getting listed at major spirits distributors requires preparation and investment. Start by building a track record of retail accounts before approaching distributors, as they are more likely to engage if you can demonstrate existing sales momentum. **Key considerations:** - **Amathus Drinks** — A major distributor contact is Rob Gray (rob@amathusdrinks.com). However, they won't engage seriously unless you already have several retail accounts; they then connect you with their sales reps. - **Listing fees and free stock** — Be prepared to pay listing fees and provide free stock for their retail locations as part of the onboarding cost. **Takeaway:** Approach distributors after you've already secured direct-to-retail relationships, rather than as your first distribution route. The distributor will then leverage their network to place your product across their chain.