Beverage Development; Where to Start!

After speaking with hundreds of companies I’ve noticed some of the same questions on beverage development pop up over and over again. The top questions are: How much will it cost to develop the product? How much will it cost to produce? How long will it take? and What is the minimums for production?

The costing questions are very easy because each type of product has minimum quantities in bottling or production. This goes along with costing of your product. For example, if you are doing cans the minimum is higher than bottles. If you are making a carbonated beverage the minimum is higher than non carbonated beverages.

The issue of timelines and how long beverage development last is not so easy. You have to consider artwork, formulation, a standard bottle or can or a custom one, your displays, racks and many other variables. Most of the time here is waiting for feedback on logos, taste, colors and artwork. We also have to wait for samples, for printing, mailings, and all of this can take a few weeks.

The beverage development itself does not take much time. You should have all the details in less than 2 weeks. The rest of the time is going back and forward and decided what to do and how you do it. I mean flavor profile or how you want the beverage to taste. What is the action you would like the beverage to do? Is it an energy drink or energy shot? Is it a vitamin water or how about a soda? Maybe you’re developing a tea or coffee product.

Would you like to learn more about beverage development, sales, marketing and distribution? Read the book Build Your Beverage Empire and be a beverage business expert.

Beverage Consulting

What are you looking for in the Beverage Industry?  Why do you need Beverage Consulting?

Do you need beverage development or bottling solutions that are ready in 2 weeks?

How about to increase sales and distribution to distributors, wholesalers, convenience stores and supermarkets?

Do you have your business plan ready for funding or execution? 

Are you exploring new sales channels that are not retail?

Will you export to Mexico in the next 30 days?

Is your product an energy drink, soda, tequila, vodka, vitamin water, tea, coffee, high end water, energy shot, new blend? Let us know?

Is your pricing, positioning and branding strategy ready to compete with the big boys?

These are just some of the reasons entrepreneurs, companies and investors call us.   We can work with you for any project of any size.  It does not matter if you are starting and need to go to market soon or if you are a growing company ready to exit.

Learn more about:

Beverage Incubation

Beverage Development

Beverage Bottling

Beverage Consultants

 

Call us today to see how we can work together.  If we both like our companies and working stile we’ll start right away, so call us today at (619) 921 3124.

 

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FREE Teleseminar- Open Questions: This will be an open question teleseminar. Prepare you questions!

Ask your questions about beverages, energy drinks, sodas, sales, distribution, retail or wholesale.

You are invited to a FREE teleseminar / conference call this Wednesday November 19, 2008 at 3:30 PM PST / 6:30 PM EST sharp.

You will notice our time and dial in phone number has changed for teleseminars.  We switched to a Blog Talk Radio format where you can log in and ask questions.

*******Teleconference Information*******

Link to ask questions: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Jorge-Olson

Date / Time: 11/19/2008 3:30 PM PST / 6:30 PM EST

Call-in Number: (347) 884-8982

 

Please log into the website above and dial in to get the full benefit of the teleseminar.

The teleseminar will be from 30 minutes.

Don’t forget, the call is FREE.  I hope you can make it.

Are Energy Drinks Dead?

Are Energy Drinks still at the front of the New Age Beverage Business?

Energy Drinks are still growing and double figure digits. The problem is when you look close the only companies actually growing are Monster Energy Drink, Rockstart Energy Drink, Red Bull, Coca Cola products like Tab and Burn or Full Throttle, Pepsi Cola with Sobe and other large companies.

None of the small companies are growing or succeeding. Furthermore, when I speak with distributors, retailers and wholesalers they tell me they get at least one call every single day from someone selling them an energy drink. They tell me they don’t what to see an energy drink ever again. So what’s going on? Are new energy drinks dead or if there still an opportunity or an opening for new energy drinks to flourish?

Well, in my opinion there is still a large opportunity, but not through traditional channels. You can’t get a new energy drink into 7-Eleven, or Circle K, or any of the important retail accounts. Well, you actually, can, if you can pay $100 per store times 4,000 stores for slotting, but that’s $400,000 just to get into the store and in many cases that is not even enough anymore. How will you sell the product, advertise, etc. No, that’s not the answer.

The answer is alternative channels. Many beverage companies don’t realize that consumer goods can be sold in many different places, not just supermarkets and convenience stores. Energy Drinks as well as other type of beverages can be sold in office buildings, in hardware stores, doctor’s clinics, and the list goes on and on. For example, the largest growing energy drink sales are using MLM – Multi Level Marketing and are being sold from home.

Using direct marketing, untraditional methods of distribution and clever sales strategies you can still sell your energy drink or other beverages and capture a niche and your share of the market.

So are Energy Drinks Dead? No, they are not, but the traditional way of launching an energy drink is saturated. So don’t waste your time (and money) trying to prove me wrong. I have spoken with 3 companies just last month that when through up to $6 million dollars and could not compete in the space.

Think out of the box, think alternative, think direct sales.
Thanks,
Jorge Olson
PS: Remember Liquid Brands Management is accepting aplications for its Beverage Incubator. Call my partner Carlos for more information at (619) 921 3124

 

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Energy Drink Explosion Hits Food

Mintel expects energy drink buzz to spill over into food, snacks and candy

CHICAGO – Anyone who’s been to a convenience store, sporting event or bar lately knows–energy drinks are hot. Mintel’s latest report on energy drinks values the retail market at $4.8 billion, a growth of over 400% from 2003.

Mintel sees the number of “energy drinkers” growing quickly. In 2003, only 9% of adult respondents to Mintel’s survey said they drank energy drinks. In 2008, 15% did. Teens have picked up energy drinks even faster. Mintel’s latest survey of teenagers revealed 35% regularly consume energy drinks, up from 19% in 2003.

Read more

Beverage Distributor Sales Support Video

Beverage Distributor Sales Support Video

FREE Teleseminar – How to develop your Business Plan

THE CALL IS TOMORROW!!!

You are invited to a FREE conference call this Wednesday August 13, 2008 at 6 PM PST sharp.

On this call you will learn:

-How to Develop your Business Plan

-Why you need a Business Plan

-All different parts of you Business Plan

To call in simply dial in the number and punch in the access code plus the # sign listed bellow at 6 PM PST.

Date: Wednesday August 13, 2008

Time: 6 PM PST / 9 PM EST

Conference Dial-in Number: (712) 451-6000

Participant Access Code: 685210#

The call will be from 30 minutes to 40 minutes in length.

Don’t forget, the call is FREE.  I hope you can make it.

Build Your Beverage Empire ^TM

Thanks,

Jorge S. Olson

Weekly Free Teleseminars

Don’t miss our weekly Conference Calls / Teleseminars on Wednesdays at 3 PM PST / 6 PM EST

Every week we cover a different topic in the beverage industry including beverage development, bottling, sales, business planning, sales, distribution and much more.

Fore more information visit www.BlogTalkRadio.com/Jorge-Olson

 

If you need beverage development or consulting call us today. We can help you get started with your beverage and have a product in 2 weeks.