The alcohol products industry is currently facing a number of challenges. Wholesalers must not only adapt to new legal requirements, but also constantly strive to retain their customers and acquire new ones. This requires not only efficient business operations, but also observation of current trends and the ability to efficiently adapt the offer to consumer requirements.
What exactly attracts customers to alcohol wholesalers nowadays?
Factors that attract consumers
Today's customers of alcohol wholesalers have various expectations and preferences that influence what attracts them to purchases and encourages them to choose the offer of a given company. Frequently, wholesale customers themselves observe a change in the behavior of their customers (during retail purchases in their stores or as part of the offer of gastronomic premises). Here are some factors that may attract today's customers to alcohol wholesalers and influence the attractiveness of the offer:
- Large selection of products
Customers are looking for alcohol wholesalers that offer a wide selection of different types of spirits, wine, beer, spirits, etc. The rich offer allows customers to find their favorite brands, explore new flavors and discover unique products. Moreover, a larger and diversified order is simply profitable, both in time and financially. Wholesalers with a wide range of products can offer regular customers preferential sales conditions or discounts when placing a larger order.
- Competitive prices
Price plays a key role in making purchasing decisions. Today's consumers are looking for attractive prices, promotions and discounts that allow them to save money when buying alcohol wholesale. Unfortunately, the recent times have not been kind to the spirits industry, not only for inflation and rising alcohol production costs, but also for the increase in excise duty. The price of each alcoholic product will increase noticeably, which will have an impact on consumers and their purchasing power. Attractive wholesale prices or even occasional promotional and discount campaigns may attract customers to food wholesalers, as thanks to the purchase of alcohol at a preferential price, they will be able to offer more favorable purchase conditions to their retail customers.
- Convenient wholesale shopping
Nowadays, time and convenience count. Customers appreciate the convenience of wholesale shopping, which allows them to purchase larger quantities of alcohol during one visit or through one order placed online. For owners of bars, restaurants, hotels and other enterprises in the catering industry, wholesalers are a convenient place to purchase alcohol for the needs of their business. Providing tools for efficient ordering and fine-tuning the issue of delivery can largely attract customers to alcohol wholesalers.
- Knowledge and advice
Customers can look for wholesalers that offer help and advice in choosing the right alcohol. Employees with good knowledge of the different brands, types, countries of origin and quality levels of spirits can help customers make an informed choice. The customer will prefer to cooperate with a wholesaler whose representatives appear to him as professionals in every matter.
- Delivery services
Another issue related to the above-mentioned convenience and time saving. Many customers appreciate the possibility of using delivery services that make it easier to buy alcohol without having to be present in person at the warehouse. Many wholesalers develop special terms of cooperation with courier companies or even develop their own fleet, which allows for efficient delivery of goods to the customer.
- Sustainable and ecological approach
More and more consumers pay attention to sustainable development and care for the environment. Wholesalers that offer alcohol from producers and distributors with appropriate ecological certificates can attract customers who value such values. More conscious customers also pay attention to the issues of storing and transporting goods: being "eco" also pays off here!
- Unique tastings and events
Some alcohol wholesalers organize tastings, workshops and other events related to alcohol. Such activities allow customers to get to know new flavors and experience alcohol in a pleasant and educational way. It is also a great opportunity to make new business contacts.
Consumer trends in the alcohol trade
The alcohol market is one of the most dynamic consumer markets. In recent years, there have been many changes in consumer preferences that affect the development of this market, and some of the changes have been observed in recent weeks. Here are some of the most important consumer trends in the alcohol trade:
- Growing interest in healthy alcohols
Consumers are increasingly interested in a healthy lifestyle. This also translates into their preferences for alcohol, as paradoxical as it may sound. However, increased nutritional awareness makes consumers look for alcohols that are made of natural ingredients, do not contain preservatives and sugar. Consumers are also more willing to choose organic alcohol, produced in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way.
- Growing popularity of regional alcohols
Growing nutritional awareness also translates into interest in regional alcohols. There is a belief that products from smaller factories are healthier and more valuable than brands produced on a global scale. In addition, consumers are driven by curiosity: they want to try new flavors and learn more about the culture of alcohol production in different regions of the world. This favors the development of local alcohol producers who offer a wide selection of high-quality products.
- Growing interest in premium and cheap alcohol
Changes in consumer awareness and simultaneous economic and price changes have led to the emergence of an interesting and completely divergent phenomenon. Alcohol consumers can currently be divided into two main groups. The first of them has been observed for some time: these are people who are increasingly reaching for premium alcohol. They want to try alcohol with a unique taste and aroma, which are produced from the highest quality ingredients. Premium spirits are often more expensive, but consumers are willing to buy them because they believe they are worth the price. The second group are consumers who choose cheap drinks, usually with higher alcohol content. This is a new phenomenon that is directly related to the increase in alcohol prices following the increase in excise tax. A certain group of consumers do not want to give up drinking alcohol, and due to financial constraints, they "switch" to cheaper alcohol. This may mean that soon wholesalers will have to focus on a highly polarized offer: on the one hand, they offer luxury products, on the other - cheap drinks, affordable for the average citizen.
- The growing popularity of non-alcoholic "alcohols"
Consumers are increasingly choosing non-alcoholic spirits. This is due to many factors, such as growing health awareness, lifestyle changes and the growing popularity of sports. Non-alcoholic spirits are available in a wide selection of flavors and types, so everyone can find something for themselves. Beverages such as non-alcoholic beer or wine are increasingly appearing not only in shops, but also in restaurants, pubs and other catering outlets. Certainly, it is worth for the wholesaler to expand its offer with such products, thanks to which it can attract customers or encourage them to place even larger orders.