Insights from Day 1 — tariffs, supply chain shifts, bulk buyer demand — and setting the stage for what’s ahead: private label growth, product innovation, and new retail opportunities. This kickoff highlights the practical takeaways from the first day and prepares attendees to dive into the consumer, retail, and innovation-focused discussions that will shape the future of the drinks industry.

Shipping and logistics are critical cost drivers in bulk wine and spirits. This session breaks down how producers and buyers are optimizing freight, storage, and timing to reduce risk, protect margins, and move product more efficiently. Learn practical strategies to streamline logistics and scale bulk programs with confidence.

Hotel groups and multi-unit restaurant operators are increasingly building exclusive beverage programs to strengthen brand identity, improve operational consistency, and create stronger margins across locations. From private label wines and spirits to signature cocktails and RTD partnerships, hospitality operators are looking for supplier relationships that go beyond product supply and support long-term business growth.

This session will provide an inside look into how hospitality buyers evaluate beverage partners, structure sourcing decisions, and develop scalable programs across restaurant and hotel portfolios. Panelists will discuss what operators are actively sourcing today, how purchasing decisions are made, and why private label, exclusive wines, signature cocktails, and RTD programs are becoming increasingly important within the on-premise channel.

Attendees will also learn what suppliers must deliver to successfully work with large hospitality groups, including pricing, consistency, operational reliability, innovation, and scalability. For wineries, distilleries, importers, RTD producers, and contract production partners, this discussion offers practical guidance on how to approach major hospitality buyers, avoid common supplier mistakes, and build long-term partnerships that can grow across multiple venues and markets.

The panel will also explore how hospitality groups balance guest experience with commercial performance, how beverage programs are adapted across different concepts and markets, and what trends are shaping future purchasing strategies within restaurants, hotels, and lifestyle hospitality brands. This session is designed to help suppliers better understand the operational and strategic priorities driving today’s on-premise beverage business.

The bulk spirits market is evolving rapidly as buyers respond to shifting consumer demand, changing inventory dynamics, and ongoing pricing and supply chain pressures. From whiskey oversupply and agave sourcing challenges to growing interest in flavored spirits, RTDs, and innovation-led categories, buyers are rethinking how they source products and structure long-term supply relationships in 2026.

This session offers an inside look into how leading spirits buyers evaluate sourcing opportunities, manage pricing volatility, and identify suppliers that can support long-term growth. Panelists will discuss what categories they are actively looking for, how tariffs and logistics are impacting purchasing decisions, and what bulk suppliers must deliver to stand out in an increasingly competitive and fast-changing market.

Distributors and importers sit at the center of today’s bulk wine, bulk spirits, and private label ecosystem, playing a major role in determining which products reach the market and scale successfully. As competition intensifies and consumer preferences continue to shift, distributors are increasingly focused on supplier partners that can deliver strong pricing, operational reliability, supply consistency, and products that align with changing market demand.

This session will provide practical insight into how distributors evaluate new opportunities, make portfolio decisions, and structure supplier partnerships in today’s environment. Panelists will discuss what helps suppliers stand out, how pricing and logistics influence deals, and how distributors are adapting to tariffs, supply chain pressures, and evolving consumer trends. For wineries, distilleries, importers, and private label suppliers, this panel offers a clearer understanding of how to build stronger distributor relationships and improve long-term market success.

Large bar groups, restaurant operators, and hospitality brands are increasingly turning to bulk purchasing and private label beverage programs to improve margins, streamline operations, and create differentiated guest experiences across multiple locations. From house wines and signature spirits to exclusive cocktail programs and RTDs, operators are looking for supplier partners that can deliver consistency, scalability, and innovation while supporting evolving consumer preferences.

This session will provide an inside look into what national restaurant groups, hotel brands, and hospitality operators are sourcing today and how purchasing decisions are being made. Panelists will discuss the role of private label and exclusive beverage programs, current category trends, supplier expectations, pricing considerations, and the operational realities behind scaling beverage programs across multi-unit businesses.

For wineries, distilleries, importers, RTD producers, and bulk suppliers, this discussion offers practical insight into how to approach and win business with large on-premise groups. Attendees will gain a better understanding of what hospitality buyers value most in supplier relationships, common mistakes brands make when pitching, and how to build partnerships that can grow into long-term national programs.

Sustainability is often discussed at the production level, yet packaging plays a major — and often underestimated — role in environmental impact, supply-chain efficiency, and commercial performance across beverage categories. This session brings packaging into focus, examining bottles, cans, alternative formats, and closures through a practical sustainability and sourcing lens, while also addressing commercial realities such as pricing, logistics, scalability, and buyer expectations. Moderated by Patrick Spencer, Executive Director, Natural Cork Council, The panel brings together producers and packaging experts from wine, spirits, and ready-to-drink categories to share practical sourcing tips and commercial decision-making frameworks. The discussion will cover how to evaluate packaging suppliers, what questions to ask vendors, how to assess sustainability claims, and how packaging and closure choices impact cost structures, operational efficiency, and market acceptance.

Sid Patel will present a practical session on how beverage brands can use AI to build smarter sales systems and grow distribution globally. The session will also feature a live demo of CPGBuyerAI , the new AI-powered buyer discovery and sales platform from International Bulk Wine and Spirits Show and Beverage Trade Network. Attendees will learn how AI-driven buyer intelligence, decision-maker discovery, fit scoring, and outreach workflows can help brands identify the right importers, distributors, retailers, and on-trade buyers while building scalable sales processes for global growth.