Beverage sellers and buyers can benefit from the many beverage information resources available. Find out about beverage industry data, learn how packaging can affect your product sales or network with other vendors. All of this beverage information can bring you one step closer to closing your next deal and putting your product into the mainstream.

Beverage reference materials can include industry publications, and other beverage information resources can include industry affiliations, conferences and marketing research.

To make the most of beverage information resources:

1. Start by analysing beverage industry data. Find a comparable beverage and see if their target market is what you have in mind for your target market.

2. Attend an industry event to get the full spectrum of your competitors all in one place.

3. Conduct your own beverage industry research to market test your product before it is introduced and/or too far in the production phase to pull back or make changes to.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Start with general beverage information

Jump into your search with an overview of beverage information. See how the industry works and who the major players are.

I recommend: Go to BevNET for beverage news and reviews. Check out the latest beverage news headlines from BeverageDaily. Consider the consulting services of Beverage Marketing Corporation. They offer consulting, financial services and a number of publications. Find out about the correlation between beverages and good health from the Beverage Institute for Health & Wellness.

Take advantage of beverage information from industry organizations

Beverage group affiliations can give you a wide variety of beverage resources including conferences, networking opportunities, beverage industry reports, beverage trends and more.

I recommend: Look at the news and resources from the American Beverage Association. Browse the links on the Minnesota Beverage Association site. Check out the resources available from the Illinois Licensed Beverage Association. Jump on board to the schedule of events planned for the Michigan Licensed Beverage Association.

Find beverage information in industry publications

Sign up for the latest industry info through trade magazines. They cover a wide variety of topics for producers, distributors and retailers, and they offer a vast array of information on the competitive world of beverages.

I recommend: Request a free subscription to Beverage World. You can also sign up to have Daily Headline News for the Beverage World eNewsletter delivered to your inbox daily as well. Producers, distributors and retailers should consider a subscription to Beverage Industry magazine. Check out a subscription to Food&Beverage magazine. Beverage Digest is another trade publication you should consider.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When creating your own new drink or new line, make sure to do proper research on beverages similar to your product ahead of time. Follow that up with beverage industry data on the success of those products. Learn from their mistakes. Find out what helped them to succeed or what brought their product down.