

MAFFEO DRINKS
Chris Maffeo
The MAFFEO DRINKS Podcast, heard in over 100+ countries, delivers no-nonsense insights on building beverage brands from the ground up. Host Chris Maffeo leverages 20 years of experience developing drinks across 30+ markets to interview founders, managers, bartenders, and distributors. Each episode reveals how brands grow from bottle to case to pallet, following the journey from glass back to production. Our philosophy: Brands are built bottom-up.
Wanna get episode insights and deep-dive analysis? Subscribe at: https://themaffeodrinkspodcast.com
Wanna get episode insights and deep-dive analysis? Subscribe at: https://themaffeodrinkspodcast.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 6, 2023 • 33min
015 | Cities & Distributors: how to choose the right city and RTM to start from | Part 1/2 with Filiberto Amati from Amati & Associates (Warsaw, Poland)
Filiberto Amati, a Growth Advisor with a rich background in spirits from Campari and Di Saronno, shares invaluable insights. He discusses the importance of choosing the right city for market entry and how different cities present unique challenges. Filiberto emphasizes the need for a solid distribution strategy tailored to a brand’s lifecycle. They also delve into creating demand and navigating relationships with distributors, balancing the needs of big versus small firms, and adapting post-COVID marketing tactics.

Jun 29, 2023 • 41min
014 | Nordic drinks conquering the world: how to build a local category beyond its borders, bottom-up | with Marcus Pedersen from O.P. Anderson Aquavit (Malmö, Sweden)
In this episode, Chris Maffeo talks with his ex-colleague Marcus Pedersen.
They use Aquavit, a typical Nordic distillate, to discuss how niche categories can create demand and appeal beyond their borders. They talk about traditional and modern target occasions, how to approach bars, get on the back bar, cocktail menus, and ultimately drive rotation.
If you enjoyed the episode, please rate it and share it with your friends and colleagues.
About the Host: Chris Maffeo
About the Guest: Marcus Pedersen

Jun 22, 2023 • 33min
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)
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

Jun 17, 2023 • 36min
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)
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

Jun 9, 2023 • 33min
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)
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

Jun 3, 2023 • 31min
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)
Brad Crompton, Director at Spirits of Bermondsey in London, is on a mission to redefine the spirits market with his innovative lower ABV category, termed 'session spirits.' He discusses the art of building demand before capturing it, emphasizing the need for consumer education. Brad shares insights on launching collaborative marketing efforts to expand this niche and the importance of finding supportive bars. As demand for moderation grows, he highlights the potential of storytelling to connect with consumers in a competitive landscape.

May 28, 2023 • 32min
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)
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

May 21, 2023 • 34min
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)
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

May 13, 2023 • 26min
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)
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

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)
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