

MAFFEO DRINKS Leadership Insights
Chris Maffeo | MAFFEO DRINKS
The MAFFEO DRINKS Podcast is a leading drinks industry podcast delivering frontline insights for drinks leadership.
For founders, directors, distributor MDs, and hospitality leaders navigating the tension between bottom-up reality and top-down expectations.
20+ years building brands across 30+ markets. Each episode features drinks builders: founders, distributors, commercial directors, sharing how the drinks industry actually works. Not the conference version. Honest conversations.
Insights come from sitting at the bar.
Beyond episodes: advisory for leadership teams, subscription with episode deep dives and principles to navigate your own reality.
Beer, wine, spirits, Low and non-alcoholic.
Bottom-up Insights & Episode Deep Dives at https://maffeodrinks.com
For founders, directors, distributor MDs, and hospitality leaders navigating the tension between bottom-up reality and top-down expectations.
20+ years building brands across 30+ markets. Each episode features drinks builders: founders, distributors, commercial directors, sharing how the drinks industry actually works. Not the conference version. Honest conversations.
Insights come from sitting at the bar.
Beyond episodes: advisory for leadership teams, subscription with episode deep dives and principles to navigate your own reality.
Beer, wine, spirits, Low and non-alcoholic.
Bottom-up Insights & Episode Deep Dives at https://maffeodrinks.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 22, 2023 • 34min
013 | The 80/20 rule in export: how to focus on winning on a couple of markets first | Part 2/2 of the Interview with Philip Duff, Founder of Old Duff Genever and Liquid Solutions (NYC, NY, USA)
Episode Deep-Dive Analysis Available at maffeodrinks.com This episode is the second part of the selection of Chris Maffeo's chat with Philip Duff.
They started speaking about how to avoid spreading yourself too thin by entering numerous markets you cannot control effectively; having one person handle to trade at the street level while avoiding bureaucratic processes that may hinder your progress is better.
They closed the episode by discussing how brands should avoid relying too much on past success when looking toward future growth opportunities. What works today might not work tomorrow due to changing market dynamics or consumer preferences.
If you enjoyed the episode, please rate it and share it with your friends and colleagues. Listen to the Philip Duff Show (podcast) to find out more.
About the Host: Chris Maffeo
About the Guest: Philip Duff
Interested in Group Subscriptions, Keynote Presentations or Advisory? You can get in touch at bottomup@maffeodrinks.com or find out more at maffeodrinks.com

Jun 17, 2023 • 37min
012 | The shelf-life mindset: what can spirits learn from beer to drive rotation | Part 1/2 of the Interview with Philip Duff, Founder of Old Duff Genever and Liquid Solutions (NYC, NY, USA)
Episode Deep-Dive Analysis Available at maffeodrinks.com This episode is a selection of Chris Maffeo's chat with Philip Duff.
They spoke about the difference between beer, wine, and spirits and what Spirits marketers can learn from the beer industry by better understanding the ecosystem - from breweries/distilleries through importers/distributors/wholesalers/bar owners/staff/bartenders/consumers. The importance of avoiding the far too common disconnect between marketing guidelines and actual bar practices. They spoke about cocktail occasions being a popular trend many brands want to participate in. Some have a credible story, while others seem like random marketing inventions.
If you enjoyed the episode, please rate it and share it with your friends and colleagues.
To find out more, listen to the Philip Duff Show (podcast).
About the Host: Chris Maffeo
About the Guest: Philip Duff
Interested in Group Subscriptions, Keynote Presentations or Advisory? You can get in touch at bottomup@maffeodrinks.com or find out more at maffeodrinks.com

Jun 9, 2023 • 34min
011 | How to get on Cocktail Menus: thinking out of the box to achieve rotation | Part 2/2 of the Interview with Brad Crompton, Director at Spirits of Bermondsey (London, UK)
Episode Deep-Dive Analysis Available at maffeodrinks.com In this episode, Chris Maffeo spoke to Brad Crompton, Director at Spirits of Bermondsey (Trinity 25)
In the farming part of their chat, we dive into practical strategies for increasing sales in bars. We explore the importance of targeting independent outlets and overcoming skepticism from bar managers/owners. To drive awareness and generate interest, offering free samples and designing special promotions/events prove beneficial.
We also discuss the power of relatable cocktail names and segmenting drinks based on their approximate alcohol content (ABV) to attract customers. Tracking bar menu changes and creating a pipeline for future opportunities is emphasized.
We hope you enjoy the conversation. Share it with friends, click follow and rate it if you liked it.
About the Host: Chris Maffeo
About the Guest: Brad Crompton
Interested in Group Subscriptions, Keynote Presentations or Advisory? You can get in touch at bottomup@maffeodrinks.com or find out more at maffeodrinks.com

Jun 3, 2023 • 32min
010 | Building demand for a new category: the journey from lower ABV to Session Spirit ™ | Part 1/2 of the Interview with Brad Crompton, Director at Spirits of Bermondsey (London, UK)
Episode Deep-Dive Analysis Available at maffeodrinks.com In this episode, Chris Maffeo spoke to Brad Crompton, Director at Spirits of Bermondsey (Trinity 25)
In the hunting part of their chat, they discussed the importance of building demand before capturing it. How, by talking about the broader category, a brand can establish its relevance and make the pie bigger for others, by launching a magazine covering both alcohol-free and fully alcoholic drinks.
Brad explained how they've trademarked the "session spirit" category and shifted their focus to finding bars that understand and support their vision. Instead of competing with established brands for shelf space, they aim to create a new shelf altogether where their product can thrive in its own right.
We hope you enjoy the conversation. Share it with friends, click follow and rate it if you liked it.
About the Host: Chris Maffeo
About the Guest: Brad Crompton
Interested in Group Subscriptions, Keynote Presentations or Advisory? You can get in touch at bottomup@maffeodrinks.com or find out more at maffeodrinks.com

May 28, 2023 • 33min
009 | Tech and Geographic Strategies: how CRM tools can drive flawless execution | Part 2/2 of the Interview with Dom Bowcock, Co-founder of Bowimi (London, UK)
Episode Deep-Dive Analysis Available at maffeodrinks.com In this episode, Chris Maffeo spoke to Dom Bowcock, Co-founder of Bowimi.
They discussed the importance of executing their strategy in a focused way and understanding how to prioritize an area before moving on to the next one. They spoke about the difference between selling beer and spirits brands and how crucial it is to sustain sales velocity instead while expanding distribution. They closed the episode by discussing how founders can ensure they hire the right people in their team and set them up for success.
We hope you enjoy the conversation. Share it with friends, click follow and rate it if you liked it.
About the Host: Chris Maffeo
About the Guest: Dom Bowcock
Interested in Group Subscriptions, Keynote Presentations or Advisory? You can get in touch at bottomup@maffeodrinks.com or find out more at maffeodrinks.com

May 21, 2023 • 35min
008 | Data Analysis in On-trade: how to systematize your approach to bars | Part 1/2 of the Interview with Dom Bowcock, Co-founder of Bowimi (London, UK)
Episode Deep-Dive Analysis Available at maffeodrinks.com In this episode, Chris Maffeo spoke to Dom Bowcock, Co-founder of Bowimi.
They spoke about the importance of having a simple system to capture and analyze data to identify which customers to focus on. They discussed the importance for brands to secure new accounts and nurture relationships with existing ones so that their products continue selling well. They chatted about how small-scale experiments are beneficial when trying out different strategies across various venues - but balance is key to gathering useful data points without causing paralysis by analysis.
We hope you enjoy the conversation. Share it with friends, click follow and rate it if you liked it.
About the Host: Chris Maffeo
About the Guest: Dom Bowcock
Interested in Group Subscriptions, Keynote Presentations or Advisory? You can get in touch at bottomup@maffeodrinks.com or find out more at maffeodrinks.com

May 13, 2023 • 27min
007 | Farming Sales: how to drive sales velocity in bars after you sold the first bottle | Part 2/2 of the Interview with Mike McGrail from the Drinks Noise Podcast (Edinburgh, UK)
Episode Deep-Dive Analysis Available at maffeodrinks.com In this episode, Chris Maffeo spoke to Mike McGrail, host of Drinks Noise Podcast and Digital Marketing Controller at Whyte & Mackay.
They spoke about the importance of On-trade as a channel to build brands. They spoke about how to go from 1 bottle to 1 case by selling the first bottle with the second one in mind. They then dove into what tools to use to make that happen and discussed the mindset change that needs to happen to help bars "get rid of" bottles as fast as possible to make a new order.
We hope you enjoy the conversation. Share it with friends, click follow and rate it if you liked it.
About the Host: Mike McGrail
About the Interviewee: Chris Maffeo
Interested in Group Subscriptions, Keynote Presentations or Advisory? You can get in touch at bottomup@maffeodrinks.com or find out more at maffeodrinks.com

May 6, 2023 • 23min
006 | Hunting Bars: how to start selling a new Drinks Brand in a city | Part 1/2 of the Interview with Mike McGrail from the Drinks Noise Podcast (Edinburgh, UK)
Episode Deep-Dive Analysis Available at maffeodrinks.com In this episode, Chris Maffeo spoke to Mike McGrail, host of Drinks Noise Podcast and Digital Marketing Controller at Whyte & Mackay.
They spoke about the importance of On-trade as a channel to build brands. They focused on how you create demand for your new brand, how to select the right bars to sell to and what are the first steps to sell the first bottle. They closed by talking about building a relationship with all the links of the bar from the bar back up the owner in a bottom-up way as they all play a role in the decision-making process.
I hope you enjoy the conversation. Share it with friends, click follow and rate it if you liked it.
About the Host: Mike McGrail
About the Interviewee: Chris Maffeo
Interested in Group Subscriptions, Keynote Presentations or Advisory? You can get in touch at bottomup@maffeodrinks.com or find out more at maffeodrinks.com

Apr 30, 2023 • 25min
005 | Building demand: how to educate about the occasion and the category vs. only the brand | Part 3/3 of the Interview with Ilias Mastrogiannis from the Distillery Nation Podcast (Seattle, WA, USA)
Episode Deep-Dive Analysis Available at maffeodrinks.com In this episode, Chris Maffeo spoke to Ilias Mastrogiannis, host of Distillery Nation and founder of the Mastrogiannis Distillery and Winery.
They spoke about the importance for brands to build demand and trust by educating consumers about the category and drinking occasion rather than just talking about their brand. They also suggest that brands offer something unique to stand out without overcomplicating things by creating a product just for geeks. In the end, Ilias asked Chris questions to help listeners understand better who he is and what he does.
I hope you enjoy the conversation. Share it with friends, click follow and rate it if you liked it.
About the Host: Ilias Mastrogiannis
About the Interviewee: Chris Maffeo
Interested in Group Subscriptions, Keynote Presentations or Advisory? You can get in touch at bottomup@maffeodrinks.com or find out more at maffeodrinks.com

Apr 23, 2023 • 17min
004 | Cracking the Drinks Value Chain: debunking the myth of bypassing the links of the chain | Part 2/3 of the Interview with Ilias Mastrogiannis from the Distillery Nation Podcast (Seattle, WA, USA)
Episode Deep-Dive Analysis Available at maffeodrinks.com In this episode, Chris Maffeo spoke to Ilias Mastrogiannis, host of Distillery Nation and founder of the Mastrogiannis Distillery and Winery.
They discussed how drinks brands should focus on winning in their backyard and build relationships with distributors, importers, and retailers instead of looking for shortcuts and hacks. They spoke about the importance of building Cost-of-Goods COGS from the glass to avoid becoming too expensive in the market. They discussed the hidden costs of direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales, such as margins and marketing costs, and the danger of scaling too quickly while not being cash strong to satisfy large orders.
I hope you enjoy the conversation. Share it with friends, click follow and rate it if you liked it.
About the Host: Ilias Mastrogiannis
About the Interviewee: Chris Maffeo
All rights reserved: Distillery Nation
Interested in Group Subscriptions, Keynote Presentations or Advisory? You can get in touch at bottomup@maffeodrinks.com or find out more at maffeodrinks.com


