Independent Pubs - Fresh Beer Delivered

[Wilson103]

Hi independant pub owners, managers and buyers. I'm researching for a new business idea to have beer delivered directly from breweries.
- Do you purchase your beer direct from breweries or through distributors?
- How often do you place orders?
- Do you stock craft beers?
- What is the delivery time after placing an order?
- How do you choose your beers?

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and look forward to your responses.

Shaun

 

[Opinion87]

1. Distributors.
2. Weekly.
3. Yes.
4. Order Tuesday, delivery Wednesday. Order Wednesday, delivery Thursday.
5. Trends, data, pricing.

 

[Noah]

Hi independant pub owners, managers and buyers. I'm researching for a new business idea to have beer delivered directly from breweries.

Excuse me butting in, but how will you differentiate yourself from LWC, Matthew Clark, Eebria, etc. and the myriad existing regional and local distributors?

 

[Wilson103]

The idea is to fit between an online marketplace such as eebria and a traditional wholesaler. We would collect from small scale breweries, consolidate and deliver to pubs across the UK. Orders would be created either via Breweries contacting us or through an online platform allowing customers to order directly.

 

[Noah]

The idea is to fit between an online marketplace such as eebria and a traditional wholesaler.

There are already dozens, possibly hundreds, of small independent distributors in this "space". Admittedly many of them don't seem to have grasped the online concept yet, but there are enough who do.

I don't mean to be negative. Presumably you have come here for advice, and this advice is of the nature of "ensure you have a solid business case".

Next set of smart-arse questions will be about logistics.

 

[Wilson103]

Thanks Noah, I welcome the feedback. It will all help tighten the business plan.

 

[Mr D]

The problem you would have, as in many businesses, is being noticed.
Telling people about your business is great and all - but presumably they already order from someone already and you want to take that business. While the existing company dealing with the pub wants to keep that business.

A situation that can apply in most areas of business.

 

[Opinion87]

I'll add that I get small/independent distributors contacting me fairly often, and very rarely is there anything that makes them stand out or makes me want to use them. A lot of them don't really seem to know what they're doing, either.

 

[Financial-Modeller]

A couple of thoughts:

Its not clear whether you're simply offering to transport beer from brewer to pub, or whether you're planning to buy beer from brewers and sell it on.

How do low-volume brewers get beer to pubs now, and how will you improve it for them?

I understand that draymen of yore have been replaced by international logistics companies where volumes are high, but this model obviously requires scale to work.

 

[Owesdr]

Do you maybe have some previous knowledge and experience in a field of distribution? You would need to establish good business plan with detailed logistics, and also be able to swiftly resolve all problems that will pop-up in conducting your business

 

[Darkterror]

1) Direct from breweries. We have some in our town or near it. 2) Weekly or monthly, it depends 3) Yes for sure and it's very common product 4) Usually a day after like already described here 5) Most popular brands always and some unique crafts to make diversity with something new each year or so.

 

[CaveMoons]

You have studied the competitive environment of your region for the presence of pubs with craft beer. Then make a business plan and study it for profit.