236 - How the Distribution Game is Played with Mike Bridges

Bourbon Pursuit

Hobbies, Food, Arts, Leisure

4.9 • 866 Ratings

🗓️ 16 January 2020

⏱️ 79 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

It’s the topic everyone loves to hear about, but hardly anyone is willing to talk about. And that’s the inside secrets of distribution. Distributors “hold all the chips” so it’s time we find out how deals are made. We sit down with Mike Bridges, who owns Jack's Liquor Beer Wine in Fremont, Nebraska and was once a rep for Nebraska Wine and Spirits which was later purchased by Republic. He talks about what really happens behind those closed doors, who gets allocations (high volume stores vs small mom and pop shops), and consumer frustrations. There’s a lot of ground to cover in this one. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about the smoked grain debate. How did you get into bourbon? Tell us about your time in the food and beverage industry. How did you transition into a distributor position? What was the distributor called at that time? How do allocations work? Is there any transparency between the rep and the business? Do they tell you how you can get the allocated items? What motivates a distributor to sell products? How do distributors spend money to get retailers to carry products? Talk about high volume retailers vs mom and pop retailers. Do your distributors take price gouging seriously? How much blame are you putting on the distillers for not getting allocated items? Are they using the distributors to take the blame? Would a distributor advise a brand to raise a price? Do stores ever do favors for distributors in order to get allocated items? What would be a better system? Are allocations really down every year? How has your view changed as a retailer now?

Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm not bashing the wholesaler, so to speak. You know, I consider I'm like my wife. Can't live with
0:06.4	her, can't live without her. I mean, what's up, everybody? It is episode 236 of Verben Pursuit. I'm Kenny, and we got some news to cover, so let's get to it.
0:26.0	The Kentucky Dibber Museum is back with the Legend series. It offers three nights of casual, in-depth conversations with pioneers and titans of the bourbon industry,
0:34.9	and each night in the series is hosted by our very own Fred Minnick.
0:38.7	And each evening features a different bourbon master who handpicks a selection of
0:42.9	bourbons to go and taste through. Each legend shares his or her expertise and engages
0:47.9	with guests through their senses as they taste fine bourbons and enjoy appetizers as well.
0:53.0	On January 23rd, we'll have Peggy
0:54.8	No Stevens, who is our guest back on episode 198 and 204. On Thursday, January 30th, you have
1:00.7	none other than Freddie Johnson, who we all know and love, and he's been back on episodes 59
1:05.5	and 115. And wrapping it up on February 6th is Connor O'Driscoll, who you heard most recently on episode 231.
1:13.6	Tickets to each event is $75, or there is a complete package for $200.
1:18.9	You can buy your tickets right now by going online to derbymuseum.org.
1:24.6	Woodford Reserve has released its annual expression of the double-double-oaked bourbon.
1:29.5	It's part of its annual series that celebrates master distiller Chris Morris's commitment to
1:33.8	innovation and craftsmanship. Double-double-oaked is the result of finishing fully matured,
1:38.9	Woodford Reserve double-oaked bourbon for an additional year in a second heavily toasted
1:43.4	but lightly charred new oak barrel. The extra year in the barrel createsaked bourbon for an additional year in a second heavily toasted but lightly charred new
1:44.8	oak barrel. The extra year in the barrel creates a bourbon that is distinctly spicier than its
1:50.0	original counterpart, known for its sweeter taste and finish. The product is available in limited
1:55.2	quantities at Woodford Reserve Distillery and in select liquor stores around Kentucky, coming in at
2:00.5	90.4 proof with a suggested
	...

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