The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
Getting stock into Mediterranean markets is genuinely difficult and requires significant time and regulatory work. **What members learned:** - **Italy**: Members have asked repeatedly but report there's no standout distributor option. One member was sponsoring an event in Milan and hoped to make connections in person, but the community couldn't provide specific recommendations. The usual advice is that success depends heavily on who handles your goods through the channel. - **Ibiza/Spanish islands**: One member took two years to crack this and reports it's "virtually impossible" without proper setup. The barriers are steep: - You need **both an importer and a distributor** signed up and committed - **Spanish-specific stickering and label compliance** is mandatory for customs clearance - Another member tried with "committed decent large customers" but couldn't find a quick fix despite significant time investment **Key warnings from experience:** - Don't expect rapid responses or clear guidance from potential partners in the region—one member reported responses that "were always a bit off direction" from their questions - Members with board-level regional contacts still couldn't identify reliable options - The regulatory and logistics complexity means this isn't a side project; it requires dedicated effort and proper compliance work upfront If you're serious about either market, the recommendation is to reach out to members who've completed the process (they've offered to share learnings privately), but budget significant time and be prepared for the possibility of no viable route.