Breaking Barriers: Meet the Buyer Event in London

On Friday, 21st June, we successfully hosted the ‘Meet the Buyer’ event in partnership with Distill Ventures in London to tackle barriers within the drinks industry. Ethnically diverse founders contribute between £25bn and £74bn to the UK economy, as highlighted by the Social Market Foundation report (2021), which underscores how limited social capital can impede their growth. Leveraging our extensive network of drinks founders and partnerships with multiple national hospitality organisations, we brought them together to actively promote inclusion within the supply chain through this event.

Held at Diageo HQ, the event facilitated meaningful connections by pairing key beverage industry decision-makers with drinks founders for speed-networking roundtable meetings, pitching sessions, tastings, panel discussions, and networking. A total of 26 founders and 12 decision-makers actively participated, exchanging insights into contracts, listings, and growth opportunities. Brands gained valuable perspectives on the drinks industry beyond their immediate sphere, paving the way for potential business growth and enhanced marketing opportunities.

Both operators and on-trade decision-makers benefited significantly from establishing new relationships with founders from diverse backgrounds, exploring new products, and engaging with multiple businesses in a single day—an invaluable opportunity seldom available. The event drew strong attendance and was efficiently managed, with dedicated timekeepers for each roundtable and pre-batched cocktail samples provided by the Diageo bar team.

A panel discussion comprehensively examined growth prospects for small brands from diverse viewpoints, covering distributors to national group bar managers. Ultimately, the event served as a crucial platform for key decision-makers and ethnically diverse drinks brands to exchange insights, focusing on facilitating supply chain access for small brands and showcasing culture-forward innovative products.

We eagerly anticipate following up with both parties in the coming months to assess how these new connections have evolved into enduring relationships.

Explore our other supply chain inclusion initiative at Imbibe Live.