MAFFEO DRINKS

Stephen Myers, founder of Dynamic Beverage Consultants and one of the Originals at Ilegal Mezcal, shares his insights on successfully launching beverage brands in the US market. He discusses the importance of storytelling and differentiation to create demand, and the balance between product quality and brand identity. Stephen highlights the value of building networks and relationships, and emphasizes adaptability and continuous learning as key strategies for navigating the complexities of the beverage industry.

Emmett Strack, drinks industry trends expert, discusses US & EU cross-pollination with Chris Mafel. They compare cocktail trends, on-trade dynamics, Gen Z preferences, and evolving drinking categories. Insightful chat on convenience, flavor ascension, and market trends.

Georgie Bell, co-founder of The Heart Cut, shares insights on building a brand from the ground up, discussing product explanation, storytelling, and target occasions. They explore the challenges of start-ups, building demand, and the drinks ecosystem. Dive into the early journey of a founder-led brand with learnings and course correction for bottom-up growth.

Georgie Bell, co-founder of The Heart Cut, discusses taste profiles, storytelling, and target occasions in the whiskey industry. They explore the importance of the liquid in building a brand, crafting memorable stories for whiskey, unique occasion strategies for single cask whiskey, innovative whiskey makers, inclusive marketing, and strategic marketing approaches.

Vani Gupta Dandia, a marketing professional, discusses building a drink brand bottom-up with Chris Maffeo. They talk about gender stereotypes, educating consumers, role of storytelling, cross-generational appeal, and building brands bottom-up.

In this engaging chat, Justin Medcraft, Founder of Mate Maker Hard Kombucha, shares his rich background in spirits and beer. He discusses strategies for launching a beverage brand, emphasizing the importance of community-driven marketing and authentic storytelling. The conversation highlights the challenges of market penetration and the need for a disciplined approach to brand building. Justin also explores how small brands can form creative partnerships and leverage grassroots efforts to enhance visibility and drive momentum in a competitive landscape.

Founder Justin Medcraft from Mate Maker Hard Kombucha discusses building demand, creating a loyal customer community, crafting an elevator pitch for mindful drinking, understanding consumer occasions, and market expansion strategy from Australia to California.

In Episode 051, I continued the conversation with Ilias Mastrogiannis from Episode 050 so feel free to listen to that as well. I hope you will enjoy our chat Time Stamps 0:00 Intro 0:15 Winning Large Retailers 5:28 Securing The Foundation 8:34 Non-Scalable Tasks 13:31 1% Better Everyday 17:57 The Necessity of Obsession 25:07 Wrap Up 27:24 Outro About The Host: Chris Maffeo About The Guest: Ilias Mastrogiannis

Ilias Mastrogiannis, the founder of Distillery Nation Podcast and Mastrogiannis Winery and Distillery, shares his journey influenced by Greek traditions. He discusses the evolution of his podcast into a distillery, illuminating the importance of adaptability in branding. Building demand through authenticity and community connections is key, alongside the significance of consumer engagement at events. Ilias also highlights the challenges of cocktail culture and the importance of consumer education in enhancing the drinking experience.

Stephanie Jordan, Co-founder of B Corp Avallen Spirits and former Global Brand Ambassador for Tanqueray Gin, shares her journey in the drinks industry. She discusses the importance of sustainable packaging, highlighting innovations and collaborations that drive eco-friendly practices. Jordan elaborates on navigating bar distribution and crafting cocktail menus while maintaining brand identity. She emphasizes gratitude and community engagement as essential for driving sustainable change, showing how these elements can transform the spirits market.