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 does it cost to access sales-out data from major UK retailers like Matthew Clark?
Matthew Clark charges for sales-out data access, unlike most other major retailers who provide it for free. Based on community experience, pricing has historically been substantial: one member reported it cost £5,000 five years ago, though current rates are unknown. Matthew Clark no longer sells ad-hoc data. Instead, they require suppliers to become partners in their tiered system: - **Matthew Clark partnership tiers** — Bronze, Silver, or Gold. Each tier grants access to their sales-out platform, but members describe the costs as "eye-watering" at all levels. The exact current pricing for each tier was not specified in discussions. **Caveat:** This represents a shift from their previous ad-hoc data model, so suppliers should expect to commit to a partnership structure rather than one-off data purchases. Members recommended getting a current quote directly from Matthew Clark, as pricing from 5+ years ago is likely outdated.
What are typical listing fees charged by major UK drinks wholesalers and retailers, and how negotiable are they?
Based on member experience, listing fees from major wholesalers operate on a per-depot model rather than per-SKU basis. **Confirmed pricing:** - **Matthew Clark** — charges a flat rate of £500 per depot. With their 10-depot network, this totals £5,000 for full listing across all locations. **Negotiability:** Members have raised questions about whether fees are fair and negotiable, but the excerpts do not contain specific guidance on negotiation tactics, volume discounts, or flexibility on these charges. One member was checking whether their Matthew Clark fees were competitive. **Caveats:** This data point is limited to one major wholesaler. Pricing structures may vary significantly between different wholesalers and retailers (e.g. Sainsburys direct listings may operate differently from wholesaler listings). Members seeking to negotiate should benchmark against peers in their category and region.