Richard Blake’s Post

There’s less than 2 weeks left to enter our Grounds of Innovation Awards – closing on 20th July! 🚨 This year, we’re giving you the opportunity to win a brilliant £1,000 prize bundle, including:   - A delicious coffee bundle from Grind | Certified B Corp ☕  - A latte art masterclass with Ben Lewis 🎨  - An exclusive coffee tasting experience with Rascal Coffee 👌  That’s not all, you’ll also get the chance to be crowned one of the UK’s most innovative and creative coffee shops. 👑 So, what are you waiting for? Enter now: https://lnkd.in/ePjrZYa5 To give you a flavour of the expertise behind this year’s judging panel, we caught up with Head of Coffee at Grind | Certified B Corp, Howard Gill. As a judge for this year’s awards, it’s fair to say Howey knows a thing or two about coffee, but where did his journey in the coffee industry begin? Watch below and get inspired! 💡 #GroundsOfInnovation #Creativity #Innovation 

During this past spring quarter at UCSB, I took a business strategy (TMP 120) course within the Technology Management Department. My team and I had the opportunity to take a real-world company and choose a new strategic application to make the brand even more successful! So, I'd like to share the end result of our project! We chose the non-alcoholic beer company Athletic Brewing Company and diligently made an action plan for them to expand into the mocktail industry, creating the product Oasips. Oasips is an alcohol-free beverage that has added health benefits. An example of one of the limited flavors would be the Mighty Mule (Moscow Mule flavor with real ginger, making it an immune booster). This project was a lot of fun and I learned an extensive amount about business strategy, particularly how to leverage one's competitive advantages and seek new opportunities. Thank you to Eric Zackrison for being an excellent professor and providing incredible guidance this entire quarter. I plan to complete the Technology Management Certification and learn even more in this industry! If you're interested to see the details of our project, I've attached the presentation slides that lay out my team's work for this case. #businessstrategy #UCSB #technologymanagement #communication https://lnkd.in/gejdtZ6q

It makes me wonder why they haven't optimized their brewing processes yet. 💡 Efficiency in brewing operations isn't just a buzzword; it's a game-changer. By streamlining your processes, you can significantly reduce costs and boost productivity. Imagine brewing high-quality beer without needing a costly master brewer or extensive cleaning staff. 🍺 At UBB, our revolutionary brewing solutions combine German engineering with American beauty, offering a plug-and-play system that fits anywhere. Say goodbye to space limitations and hello to increased revenue generation. 📈 Contact us at ubbrew.com to learn more! #BrewingEfficiency #CostEffectiveBrewing #BreweryInnovation

Why did we invest in MOTH Drinks - B Corp™? 🤔 Last month, the ProVen VCTs led a £4.6m investment in MOTH, the UK’s leading ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail brand that brings the convenience of enjoying a cocktail to the level of a can of beer or a glass of wine. In just three years, MOTH has seen incredible growth, quickly positioning itself as a leader in the UK’s cocktail scene. Its MOTH Margarita, for instance, is now officially the nation’s best-selling RTD Margarita. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. To give you the full story, we spoke with Jodie Miller, Investment Manager at Beringea, who led the deal alongside Harry Thomas, Portfolio Director at Beringea. Jodie shared her insights on why we believe in MOTH, including: 🎯 How MOTH became an industry trailblazer 📈 The brand’s impressive growth trajectory since its launch 🚀 The talented team and advisory board, led by co-founders 🍸 Rob Wallis and Samuel Hunt 🇺🇸 MOTH’s exciting plans for expanding into the US market Check out this article for Jodie's full take 👉 https://lnkd.in/dpiaaDRs #consumer #RTD #cocktail #vct #financialadviser #investment

𝐊𝐥𝐢𝐫𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐂𝐁 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐧𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 Kliro Capital Partners, which acquired @ICB in June 2023, has launched Fortitude Spirits Group, aiming to become a leading independent UK spirits company. Led by industry veterans, Fortitude Spirits Group will focus on brand creation, distribution, and production, with three divisions: Fortitude Spirits, Fortitude Drinks UK, and ICB Distillers. Warren Scott, Chairman, highlights their goal to "discover new sources of category growth." Nick England Managing Director of Fortitude Drinks UK, and Paul Cornell , Brands Director, emphasise expanding their portfolio with disruptive premium brands like Rozel Rosé Vodka and Hawksbill Rum. 𝐄𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐲. Click the link below to learn more and follow Food & Drink Network UK for more industry updates. #FortitudeSpirits #SpiritsIndustry #UKBrands #PremiumLiquor https://lnkd.in/eyd_B_-h

You need to check out our latest blog post on Appellation Academy! Breaking Down Silos: How Sales and Marketing Professionals Must Collaborate for Success in the Wine & Spirits Industry By breaking down silos and fostering collaboration between sales and marketing, wine and spirits businesses can drive growth, close more deals, and achieve higher revenue. Whether through regular communication, shared strategies, or team-building activities, a united approach is vital to success in this industry. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gB_Kwh5f #WineAndSpirits #IndustryChallenges #AppellationAcademy #ExpertAdvice #BusinessGrowth

I have been exploring the brewing industry for years. 🍻 In that time, I have seen its evolution more times than I can count. These are the challenges, opportunities, and historical milestones I live by—to create things that have a giant impact: 1. Innovation is key: From ancient brewing methods to today's automated systems, technology drives success. 2. Overcoming challenges: High costs and the need for skilled labor can be barriers, but modern solutions like UBB's tech are game-changers. 3. Seizing opportunities: With the right equipment, any venue can brew on-site and boost revenue without needing a master brewer. Check out ubbrew.com to see how you can revolutionize your brewing process! 📈 Share your thoughts or experiences below! #BrewingInnovation #CraftBeer #AutomatedBrewing

Whether it was🍷 wine o'clock or🍺 beer thirty, MercuryGate International had you covered at #Manifest2024. Find out how our enterprise grade platform serves up solutions that simplify transportation management. https://lnkd.in/evKZwXCk #transportation #transportationmanagement #intermodaltransport #multimodaltransport #logisticsinnovation #supplychainoptimization

Dive into the spirited world of the wine industry with our friendly debate featuring Connie Oehmler, the CFO of Zachy’s Fine Wine and Paul Zuber, the Executive Vice President of The Business Council of New York State, and moderated by Jaci Flug, partner at Greenspoon Marder LLP. Explore the nuances of states prohibiting wine sales in grocery stores and the ongoing legislative efforts to change this landscape. Join the conversation as we discuss the reasons behind the buzz, evaluate whether this shift is a positive or negative change, and gain insights into the future of wine retail. https://lnkd.in/ggYPjr6A

What's the best advice you can give to someone looking to start a business? Quincey Fennelly, co-founder of Wicklow Wolf Brewing Company, talks about the best advice he's been given when it comes to running a craft beer business Read more about his experience here: https://buff.ly/3Z2fVDl