Chilly ’ s Liquors has actually experienced a nice sales boost since the pandemic , as Coram stated during the discussion . “ I think part of that is due to the growth of prepared cocktails ,” he said . “ Now , you can go to the store and get a prepared cocktail . People are pregaming and doing more at home .”
While the rise in popularity of these ready-to-drink ( RTD ) beverages has certainly boosted sales for most retailers , it has also brought along some challenges .
“ It ’ s tough being a retailer because you only have so much shelf space , so what do you buy ? It ’ s hard to pick only a couple of brands ,” noted Rounesville . “ I feel like I ’ m always out of what the customer wants . It ’ s difficult to pinpoint the brands that are going to stay .”
Coram mentioned that the bigger companies who have the right marketing are the ones who will survive in the long term . And to a degree , that is true . But Moreno went a step further and suggested that retailers simply talk to their customers and ask what they want to see on your shelves .
“ Talk to your customers . Talk to your base . Make some time , step out onto the floor and ask customers what they ’ re drinking . Is there something they would like to see ? If you ’ re keeping your ear close to the ground , you can pick up on some new trends ,” Moreno said .
One particular trend that has been making the rounds at some off-premise retailers across the U . S . is cannabis-infused beverages . The THC Beverages panel touched on some of the hottest movements in this field , as well as certain things to keep in mind when selling these drinks .
“ In terms of demand , these beverages are wanted everywhere ,” stated Chris Lackner , president of the Hemp Beverage Alliance . “ In terms of their availability , they ’ re increasingly becoming available on a state-by-state basis . But because of its newness , there ’ s a lot of confusion on some
legislative levels , and so it still Panel discussions featuring remains in a gray area .” leading retailers and business Jon Halper , owner of Top experts brought best practices
Ten Liquors in Minneapolis , and innovative new ideas to
BARC attendees . sells a variety of THC beverages in his store and noted the amount of business it has brought in .
“ Roughly a year ago in the state of Minnesota , as part of making cannabis and dispensaries legal , it also made it legal for liquor stores to carry low dose THC-based beverages ,” he said . “ Some cities are trying to prevent it , but largely we ’ ve been able to carry it , which has been a really amazing business for us to add on top of what we ’ re already doing with full-service liquor stores . It ’ s been tremendously impactful for us .”
While it may seem conflicting , both Halper and Lackner agree that cannabis beverages fit into the beverage alcohol market . “ These are adult beverages ,” Lackner noted . “ They fit into the category and liquor channel very well . These beverages are exactly like every other beverage that ’ s currently on your shelves , except for one different molecule . Other than that , the customer experience is the same .”
If anything , adding these drinks to your shelves can only boost your bottom line . “ The benefit of having low dose THC beverages in liquor stores is the fact that adult shoppers are already coming to your store for alcohol , and making it as frictionless as possible to pick up a THC drink really does add a wealth of advantages for the consumer . On the retailer side , you ’ re bringing in a lot of customers that you may not have gotten otherwise .”
Nichols Conti , owner of Conti ’ s Wines and Spirits in Connecticut , and Neil Graff , COO of the Alabama ABC , discussed allocated products and the secondary market during the a panel discussion later in the day .
24 Beverage Dynamics • 2024 Top 100 Issue www . beveragedynamics . com