The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
International payment recovery from distributors is laborious and frustrating, particularly with USA importers who often act as order-takers rather than brand builders. The community's practical approach combines short-term relationship-building with legal escalation: **Short-term tactics:** - **Reinvest owed balance into distributor incentives** — offer funds to their sales/marketing team to help move stock down the pipe. However, members note this only works if the importer is genuinely committed; the brand ultimately remains responsible for driving shelf movement. - **Address root cause** — confirm whether the late payment is genuinely due to slow stock movement, or whether the importer is simply not fulfilling agreed sales and marketing obligations. Written agreements mean little; verbal commitments are even less reliable in the US market. **Escalation:** - **Get legal advice from a specialist debt recovery firm** — Members recommend seeking out legal contacts within the community who specialise in international debt recovery; someone offered to share details via PM. **Caveats:** - Many UK brands expanding to the USA report being "burned" by importers. The market is "a beast" — not easy to resolve quickly. - USA importers are "rarely brand builders" and often underdeliver on agreed sales and marketing commitments, even when written into contracts. - Short-term solutions may not recover the full owed amount; long-term relationship management or contract restructuring may be necessary. - Consider whether continuing the relationship is worthwhile if the importer is not performing.