Justin Potts, Chris Hughes, and Sebastien Lemoine discuss the trend of contract brewing sake, including benefits for established breweries and entrepreneurs. They explore partnership sakes, private brand sake, and OEM sake, offering insight into the world of sake collaborations. Tune in for more on sake education experiences and kampai!
Contract brewing of sake allows startups to test concepts before investing in production facilities.
Private label sake collaborations with celebrities and unique partnerships boost market visibility and consumer experiences.
Deep dives
Growing Trend of Contract Manufacturing of Sake
Contract manufacturing of sake has become increasingly common, allowing various entities to create private labels and collaborate with breweries, both in Japan and abroad. This trend mirrors similar practices in other beverage industries where individuals and organizations can develop unique labels and collaborations, expanding opportunities beyond large corporations. The history of contract brewing in Japan is explored, highlighting different variations like OEM, private brand sake, white label, bespoke made-to-order sake, and collaborations. This trend opens up avenues for diverse partnerships and product offerings, showcasing a growing market for custom sake products.
Opportunities for Budding Startups in Contract Manufacturing
Contract manufacturing presents an opportunity for startups to build their brands before investing in full-scale production facilities. By contracting with breweries, emerging sake makers can test their concepts, gain market traction, and secure funding for future brewery setups. Examples like Wakan Sake in France and Inato Agave in Akita demonstrate how startups utilize contract brewing to kickstart their production journey, leveraging the expertise and resources of established breweries before establishing their own operations.
Celebrity-Driven Private Label Sake Brands
Private label sake has gained popularity among celebrities, with notable collaborations like Foo Fighters and Ed Sheeran commissioning breweries to create special labels. Anime collaborations and unique partnerships with restaurants and bars are also on the rise, offering consumers a variety of sake experiences. The concept of blending, innovating aging techniques, and creating distinct flavor profiles tailored to specific markets are enhancing sake's appeal and visibility in diverse consumer segments.
Benefits and Challenges of Private Brand Sake
While private label sake offers benefits like risk-sharing, market expansion, and product innovation, there are challenges to address. Unclear brewery attribution, unpredictable production volumes, and dilution of brand identity are concerns that breweries and producers face in private brand collaborations. The need for careful planning, strong partnerships, and market differentiation is crucial to navigate the complexities of private brand sake and ensure successful outcomes for all stakeholders involved.
This week Justin Potts,Chris Hughes, and Sebastien Lemoine discuss the growing trend of sake companies making special sakes for clients and/or partners. The conversations covers the benefits to both established breweries and entrepreneurs trying out their ideas before having to create their own brewery. Their conversation also goes into the differences between partnership sakes, private brand sake, and OEM sake.
Check out Episode 41 on Link 8888 for more insight into the world of sake collaboration projects. If you have some of your own sake (or shochu) education experiences that you’d like to share with us here at Sake On Air, you can do so on Instagram, X, or Facebook, and you can reach us all directly with your thoughts or questions at questions@sakeonair.com.
There’s more Sake On Air headed your way again in just a couple of weeks.