This peer-driven roundtable is designed for buyers from small and independently owned on- and off-premise beverage businesses—including boutique wine shops, bars, restaurants, and specialty retailers. Join fellow operators navigating similar challenges to share ideas, discuss solutions, and uncover strategies for building resilient, profitable programs in today’s volatile marketplace.

Whether you're managing a tight team, reworking your sourcing strategy, or adapting to shifting consumer expectations, this session offers a space to connect with others who understand the unique demands of independent beverage buying.

Discussion Points:

• Trends, To Be or Not To Be: Which trends are important to your business and which are not? When is it a good time to pass on a trend vs embracing it? Are you actively looking for the next trend and when is it too late to start?

• Standing Out Locally: How independent buyers are crafting unique programs, telling compelling product stories, and building loyal guest communities in saturated or competitive markets.

• Selecting & Partnering with Suppliers: Real talk on working with distributors and suppliers, determining what they should provide, and creating programs that meet your needs through an RFP. 

• Recruiting & Running a Lean Team: Share solutions for managing labor challenges with lean staff - from hiring and training to sustaining morale and service standards with fewer hands on deck.

• Labor, Training & the New Generation: Sharing solutions on how to train, engage, and instill passion in a new staff whose ideals may differ from those of the industry.

• Balancing Aspirations with Financial Realities: Explore how others are curating standout lists and shelves while managing margin pressure, slower turns, and evolving guest behaviors.