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.
How should spirits producers respond to Tesco's packaging material red/amber/green preference list that restricts PVC, PLA, complex laminates, and natural cork?
Tesco's packaging materials preferred list classifies PVC and PLA as red (avoid), complex laminates including aluminium as red, and natural cork as amber (minimise). This creates a significant challenge for spirits producers, as these materials dominate current tamper-proof sealing solutions. **Options members are considering:** - **PET heat shrink** — Listed on Tesco's green list as an alternative to PVC/PLA for seals; however, suppliers report substantially higher costs and higher minimum order quantities (MOQ) compared to current materials - **Paper top straps** — One of the few remaining tamper-proof seal options compliant with the red/amber restrictions - **Plastic stoppers** — The materials list effectively pushes producers away from natural cork (amber) toward plastic alternatives **Key context:** The materials list appears designed for a broad range of food and beverage categories rather than specifically optimised for spirits. Several producers have not yet changed their packaging to comply and are considering whether to approach their Tesco buyers to understand the rationale and flexibility behind the restrictions. No confirmed examples of producers having successfully negotiated exemptions or alternative arrangements were discussed.
What agencies can help manage Tesco compliance and conduct stock checks across multiple stores?
Several members have used third-party agencies to manage Tesco compliance and stock audits across store networks. Rather than managing this in-house, outsourcing to a specialist firm allows you to be selective about which stores to monitor and get quick visibility on stock position. **Key agencies members recommend:** - **Red Wigwam** — multiple members currently using them. Praised for being quick to get live, reasonable costs, and granular store selection (you can choose exactly which stores to audit). Simple reporting. Contact: catherine@redwigwam.com - **Prime Field Marketing** — used by members for Tesco compliance work in the past. Reported to do good work and be reasonably priced. - **Double Dutch** — recently got their own Tesco listing; mentioned as an option. **Approach:** Members suggested asking within Kindred first to see if anyone has direct recommendations or can split a larger national project (cost-sharing across multiple brands can reduce per-brand fees). One member noted that while their previous contact at one agency no longer works there, the firm remained reasonable to work with.