Description:
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:

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

• Sourcing Smart in a Constrained Landscape:
  Real talk on working with distributors, handling allocations, finding alternatives during supply shortages, and staying nimble with limited case buys.

• Labor, Training & Burnout in Small Teams:
  Share solutions for managing labor challenges with lean staff—from hiring and training to sustaining morale and service standards with fewer hands on deck.

• Tariffs, Trade, and Inventory Strategy:
  How shifting tariffs and import delays are impacting buying decisions—and what creative sourcing or pricing strategies are helping businesses adapt.

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