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 a reasonable duration for an NDA when partnering on product recipes, and is a 5-year term a red flag?
Members offered mixed perspectives on NDA duration and necessity in the FMCG sector. **Duration:** - A 5-year NDA limit was questioned by the person asking, though no consensus emerged on whether this is unreasonably long or short for recipe partnerships. **Broader perspective on NDAs in FMCG:** - Several members expressed scepticism about the practical value of NDAs in the drinks/FMCG space, arguing that recipes and formulations are rarely truly proprietary and that enforcement is difficult if disputes arise. - The view was raised that in practice, business relationships often rely more on trust and informal agreements ("handshake and gentlemen's agreement") than formal contracts, because legal enforcement is costly and damages relationships irreparably. - One member noted that "brand is different"—suggesting brand-related IP may warrant more protection than recipe IP alone. **Caveat:** The community discussion did not provide specific guidance on standard NDA durations in the industry, so the 5-year term was not benchmarked against common practice. If recipe confidentiality is material to your partnership, consulting a solicitor familiar with FMCG licensing may be wise.
Who provides drinks and cocktail recipe development and serves consultation services in the UK?
Several consultants are active in the UK market for developing cocktail menus, signature serves and simple serves. Members recommend: - **Julian De Feral** — highly recommended by multiple members; phone: 07979960967 - **Dan Whiteside** — develops menus for UK operators; email: hello@danwhiteside.co.uk; phone: +44 7447 663030 - **Joe at Heads, Hearts and Tails** — recommended for menu development; phone: 07919032592 - **Crucible London** (crucible.london) — mentioned as a resource for recipe and serves consultation Members note that pricing varies; shop around if budget is a concern, as at least one consultant was flagged as "quite pricey."