Financial results shouldn’t live only in the accounting office, they belong to every department. In this podcast, I'll share how beer wholesalers can build a culture of financial accountability by giving managers the tools, training, and systems to understand and own their numbers. You’ll learn how to provide financial literacy education, involve department leaders in high-involvement planning, and run regular financial huddles that turn data into action. The result: smarter...

In today's episode, we hear from RJ Martucci, Partner and Co-Lead of the Food & Beverage Practice at PKF O’Connor Davies, to break down the latest tax rules and strategies affecting beer wholesalers. From entity structure and depreciation rules to credits, incentives, and estate planning, RJ shares practical guidance to help wholesalers reduce taxes, avoid surprises, and build long-term value. If you want to keep more cash in your business — both now and when it’s time to exit...

In today's podcast we dig into the "state of beer" with economist Lester Jones, separating structural shifts from cyclical noise and outlining a practical playbook to drive sales growth. From broken pricing elasticity to on-premise strategy and demographics, we share data and specific moves. Key Topics: • industry volumes down and dollars soft • structural vs cyclical drivers shaping demand • beer purchasers’ index sentiment and signals • pricing power fad...

A CFO who became a head of marketing, eliminated millions in debt, and then built a company to fix distribution blind spots—Doug Veliky’s journey is a masterclass in making beer businesses sturdier and smarter. We dig into the decisions that actually move the needle: building an internal audit team at Reyes that focused on real compliance risk, redesigning systems at Revolution to produce market-level P&Ls, and consolidating a spaghetti bowl of loans into a revolving line that turne...

In today's podcast you'll hear the audio version of our workshop on how to grow sales, increase gross profits and reduced finished product loss. In this session, you’ll learn how to: Increase gross profit using the powerful VxP toolReduce finished product loss through more efficient inventory managementIdentify key opportunities to grow top-line salesKey Takeaways Gain actionable insights for boosting gross profitLearn how VxP can transform your business operationsGet practical, real-wo...

Health insurance costs are spiraling out of control for many beer wholesalers, with annual increases of 5-10% that seem impossible to escape. But what if there was a better way? What if you could not only stop these relentless increases but actually reduce costs while improving benefits? Erin Butler from BevCap Management reveals how beer distributors across the country are doing exactly that through captive health insurance plans. This isn't just a minor cost adjustment – it's a...

In this financial workshop with with RJ Martucci from PKF O’Connor Davies, we explore powerful and practical ways for beer wholesalers to get more value from their financial statements. Instead of just glancing at the P&L each month, RJ encourages a layered approach to financial analysis—using multiple tools and perspectives to uncover the full story behind the numbers. From trend analysis to dashboards, it’s all about building a clear picture of performance and spotting opportunities to ...

In today's podcast you'll hear the audio version of our Wholesaler Financial Round Table meeting. This month's topic is on financial analysis techniques and wholesaler financial benchmarks. Summary of Key Points Financial analysis basics: How to focus on the most important numbersHow to follow a financial month-end process to speed up production of the financial statementsStandard set of reports and financial benchmarks Resources Connect with RJ Martucci at PKF O'Connor Davie...

This podcast is all about how to reduce finished product loss (FPL) in your beer business. Bud Dunn from VxP shares best practices, training ideas, and a cool software tool to help you significantly reduce out of code beer in your business. Step 1: Calculate how much FPL costs your business each year (probably around 10cents/CE)Step 2: Reach out to Bud to see how you can reduce your FPL to 2-3cents/CEStep 3: Enjoy the savings!Summary Use VxP to grow volume, profit, and reduce fini...

Today on the podcast we hear from Dan Lust, Beverage Industry Consultant with Pints, LLC. Dan and I review the top challenges facing the industry and share data analytics, business planning, and performance measurement tactics for distributors and breweries. Summary Hot topics: Tariffs, pricing, and the importance of sales trainingStrategic growth planning tactics for breweries Tools to make data-driven decisionsKeys to brewery-wholesaler business relationshipsResources Connect wit...

Today on the podcast we talk all-things truck leasing with Jenn King, Field Sales Manager from Penske. The lease vs. buy question is a big one when it comes to your truck fleet. Jenn gives us a high-level overview of how truck leasing works, what's included, and a tool to perform a cost analysis so you get the best scenario for your business. Key Points Lease vs. own analysis tool - how to make the best financial decision for fleet managementHow to remove risk, increase uptime, an...

In our beer wholesaler business we used a self-funded insurance plan to save millions of dollars over the cost of traditional fully funded health plan. In today's podcast, Erin Butler of BevCap Management will show you how to do the same in your beer business. Key Takeaways Wholesalers in the BevCap group save $640 per month, per employee compared to the average fully funded insurance premiums. This works out to a savings of $7,680 per year, per employeeExample: Beer wholesaler A ...

Today on the podcast we hear from Bob Higgins of P3 Cost Analysts. Bob and his team specialize in identifying and reducing over-spending in your business. We talk all things expense management, cost reduction strategies, and share ideas on how your wholesaler business can save money. Highlights Bob's process for identifying and eliminating unnecessary expensesBiggest cost-saving opportunities that companies commonly overlookThe most surprising savings P3 has been able to secure for clientsTre...

Today on the podcast we hear from Dave Williams, the Analytics Czar from Bump Williams Consulting. Dave provides a recap of 2024 beer industry data, trends, and insights. We also cover “Dave’s Top 7”. These are the hot topics that he's been hearing about recently in the beer business. Key Points Growth in non-alcohol beer and ready-to-drink productsOn-premise resultsHealth guidelines and the impact of tariffsTrends in cannabis and crossover brandsResources Connect with Dave, dave@bumpwilliams...

Today on the podcast we hear from Rebecca Maisel from Gulf Distributing. Rebecca is the Senior VP of Legal and Governmental Affairs and recently elected Chair of the National Beer Wholesalers Association. Rebecca and I talk about how to become a world class beer wholesaler, her vision for wholesalers to adapt, grow, protect, and invest, and how to continue to innovate in the beer distribution space. Topic Summary Key focus areas for beer wholesalers in legal and governmental affairsBest...

Today on the podcast NBWA's Chief Economist Lester Jones breaks down beer sales data from 2024 and provides an outlook for 2025. Key PointsHow did beer do in 2024? What is the data telling us? Total beer sales / consumptionOn / Off premise trendsSurprising trends and predictions for 2025Tariffs, inflation, and interest rates...what does it mean for beer sales in 2025?ResourcesConnect with Lester Jones, ljones@nbwa.orgGet the free beer business finance newsletter

In today's podcast you'll get best practices, tools, and inspiration to build your 2025 beer wholesaler financial plan. Topics Covered: Open Q&A: What is your BIG budget challenge right now?3 Steps to take right now to build a great budgetBudget prep outline template to keep you organized6 Budget questions you need to answerSample wholesaler budget templates - sales, GP, OPEX, etc.​Key Takeaways How to overcome analysis paralysis in the budget processTactics to consolidate multiple busine...

Today on the podcast we dive deep into the world of supplier incentives. What they are, how they work, and how to get alignment between these incentives and bottom line company goals. Summary How supplier incentives fit into the bigger picture of compensationThe ideal compensation mix: Base, commissions, PFP, and supplier incentivesThe complexity of managing different categories of supplier incentives: Volume, placements, facing, displays, etc.The potential for misalignment of incentives: Is...

Today on the podcast we hear from Sean McLaren and Adam Bush from OMAC Beverage Advisors. OMAC has worked on hundreds of transactions in the beverage industry, and understand the unique considerations for these types of deals. Sean and Adam share insights and analysis on the state of wholesaler consolidation, trends in valuation multiples, and best practices to make ready for a sale. Summary Multiples of EBITDA steadily rising from 7x-9x to 10x-15xAnnual transactions remain consist...

Tom DeMayo is a partner with PKF O'Connor Davies, specializes in cybersecurity, and is a self-described 'ethical hacker'. Cybercrime is a $10 trillion problem globally, and beer wholesalers are target. In today's podcast, Tom shares how these crimes occur, how to find out if your company is vulnerable, and what steps you can take right now to prevent a ransomware attack. Key Points Terms defined: Dark web, deep web, surface web, ransomwareHow hackers break in to your systems and wha...