Tonya Leis’ Post

Check out our newest big beverage announcement!

We’re Live from Ducie Street Warehouse 🔊 Tune in to our Right Aligned Academy webinar to hear Timothy and joe talk about how we brought iconicity back to the chilled pizza aisle for PizzaExpress 🍕 #branddesign #masterbrand #brandidentity #brandstrategy

Waitrose welcomes further Small Beer innovation! Felix James and I took this picture in the Summer of 2020, an incredibly proud moment as Small Beer Brew Co. landed on the shelves of more than 160 Waitrose stores across the country. Waitrose & Partners stood true to their values of supporting independent, sustainably-minded British producers. Embracing our mid-strength beer category innovation and front-footing the rapidly changing consumer environment and their customer's relationship with alcohol. It's a relationship that has continued to blossom with Waitrose being able to cater to a customer base who are shopping more mindfully than ever. At Small Beer we're not seeing consumers wanting to forego the social occasion, but we know that many (ourselves very much included) are more conscious about the impacts of alcohol on us personally and professionally. This May we exclusively launched our Small Beer Stout across 200 stores, grew distribution of Small Beer Lager to more than 200 stores and developed our Small Beer Pale pack size proposition, increasing it from single bottle to 6packs. It continues to be a great pleasure to work with a retailer whose values align with our own. Special acknowledgment to the Waitrose Buying Team who continue to challenge and push the boundaries within their offering, and a delight to share a partnership and category that is only strengthening. #independent #business #innovation #retail #category #growth

Another pure-play DTC brand goes multichannel. Is this a good thing? Absolutely. If you have a good product you should make it easy for your customers to buy. For most food and drink brands, this means being available in supermarkets, where 95% of food purchases are made. Does this mean DTC is dead? No way. 1) Without DTC, brands like Beer52 and Graze would not have been able to build their brands and refine their offer to the point where they have the credibility and relevance to get a supermarket listing. 2) DTC is still a great way to obtain bulkier, high-consumption everyday products like coffee, collagen, and toilet paper (to name a few). Multichannel is the way to go, but it does not come without groundwork. #multichannel #dtcstrategy #brandbuilding

Blake's Hard Cider Co. exemplifies what's possible when a brand knows its core identity and uses that as the foundation to drive consumer engagement. By staying true to their roots and driving intentional innovation, Blake’s has shown that authenticity is a powerful tool for impactful growth. I’ve seen firsthand how their approach—built on a long-term vision—has turned them into one of the most successful brands in the market. Success is never an accident, and there are no shortcuts. When brands implement the right strategies, take a long-term view of their business, and execute with patience and precision, success is achievable—even in the most competitive markets. #DistributionStrategy #BrandGrowth #BeverageIndustry #StrategicPartnerships #ScalingBrands #BlakesHardCider

Thanks, Ben Nussbaum, for tapping me to report on one of the most important topics in bev-alc: the dominance of the woman consumer and her power as a c-store shopper. Find the story in the August issue of NACS Magazine!

At Beverage Federation, we’re building more than just a network. We’re connecting suppliers and beverage businesses directly to reduce costs and grow together. As a supply partner, you gain exclusive access to our network of breweries, distilleries, and wineries, creating meaningful partnerships that drive results. Here’s what Jared Stober, Owner of Two Track Malting , had to say about partnering with us: "What really drew us to the Beverage Federation is that this isn’t a distribution center but a way to connect with brewers and distillers directly." For beverage businesses, you get access to trusted, high-quality suppliers at the best prices, which helps you reduce costs and focus on what you do best: crafting great beverages! 🍻 Ready to become part of a strategic partnership network designed for growth? Learn more about how we can help simplify your purchasing process and fuel your business success. #BusinessGrowth #SupplierNetwork #BeverageIndustry

Our relationship with lager began during the late 1890s, when Percy Allsopp was appointed Chairman of Samuel Allsopp & Sons, in an attempt to turn-around the fortunes of the company. During this time, Percy travelled the globe to find the best ingredients for his visionary new beer and pioneered lager brewing in the UK. 40 years later, at the 1936 consensus, the brewery was 50% of the capacity of the entire UK lager brewing sector, brewing Pilsner and Bavarian-style beers. Yet Allsopp’s lager wasn’t particularly successful at the time. We were half a century too early to the party, which wasn’t helped by the fact that Allsopp’s Pilsner was launched before refrigeration became widely available. Fast-forward to 2024 and lager is everywhere in the UK. We’ve still got unfinished business with our Allsopp’s Pilsner, but it’s now our fastest-growing beer, which is quite a turn-around! Have you tasted it yet? #Allsopps #AskForAllsopps #Beer #Lager #Pilsner #Brewing

The craft spirits industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, with more distilleries producing exceptional products than ever before. However, this success comes with unique challenges, particularly in the realm of direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipping.  While wineries benefit from DTC shipping in 47 states, distilleries currently have access to this opportunity in only 8 states and D.C. This creates a gap between the innovation happening in craft distilling and the ability for consumers to easily access these products.  Our consulting agency is here to help you navigate the complexities of distribution and regulation. Let’s tackle them together and find the best path forward for your brand.  #CraftSpirits #DistributionStrategy #RegulatoryGuidance #SpiritsIndustry #BusinessGrowth #BeverageConsulting

Savor the Flavor of Success 🍽️ Join Alphabets Group's Food & Beverage Consultancy and transform your passion into a thriving franchise. Let’s cook up a storm together! #CulinaryConsultancy #FranchiseSuccess #AlphabetsGroup"