The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
Venue tendering success depends on timing, communication, and persistence. Most venues using platforms like EzTenda are looking for new and exciting products but have limited capacity to proactively engage with every brand—so your approach matters significantly. **Key tactics for tender success:** - **Proactive contact before cold calling** — When you submit a bid, immediately follow up with a message that includes your email and phone number, and ask for a meeting rather than cold calling blind. This respects their time while establishing direct contact. - **Chase confidently after closure** — Once a tender has officially closed and you've already sent your contact details with a bid, you have full permission to follow up aggressively with calls, emails, and phone contact. Venues expect and accept follow-up at this stage. - **Avoid contact during the open tender period** — Do not cold call, visit, or chase venues while tenders are still open or before you've placed a bid. This is counterproductive and annoying for venue staff managing multiple submissions. - **Use intermediaries when helpful** — If you're struggling with feedback or updates on outstanding tenders, venue contacts or tender administrators can sometimes provide updates or facilitate your follow-up. **Venue selection factors:** - Research venues actively tendering on EzTenda and similar platforms; these are actively seeking new suppliers. - Tailor your submission to venue type and positioning (e.g., casual food-hall concepts like Pop Brixton may have different price/category requirements than fine dining). - Ensure your brand deck is ready to send quickly when venues express interest. **Common frustration:** Several members reported having 8+ closed tenders with no feedback from venue owners. This is normal; follow up anyway once the tender is officially closed.