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.
Does changing a product's ABV percentage require issuing a new GTIN code?
The answer depends on your customer base and their stock-tracking requirements. **Theoretical vs. practical approach:** - Technically, any change in product specification (including ABV) should trigger a new GTIN to allow proper tracking and differentiation in systems - In practice, some customers—particularly wholesalers and retailers—find processing new barcodes administratively burdensome and may resist the change - Several members take the cautious approach of issuing a new code for any spec change to avoid future compliance or tracking issues **Key consideration:** Check with your primary customers (especially major retailers or wholesalers) before deciding. If they use the GTIN to distinguish between different stock batches or have integrated systems, they'll likely require a new code. If they're less formal about it, you may get pushback on the administrative overhead.
What information should be included in a technical composition sheet for an RTD cocktail product?
A technical sheet for an RTD cocktail should include the following core details: - **Ingredients list** — full disclosure of all component ingredients - **Allergens** — clear allergen declaration - **ABV** — alcohol by volume - **Density** — product density specification - **Shelf life** — expiration and storage conditions - **Vegan/Natural/other claims** — any marketing or dietary claims made on the product - **GMO statement** — GMO status declaration - **Description of colour and taste profile** — sensory descriptors for the product - **Production site address** — manufacturing location for traceability and regulatory purposes Members note that requirements can vary depending on the retailer or distributor requesting the sheet, so it's worth confirming the specific format and additional fields they need before submission.