023 | Bootstrapping & Investors | How the founder's role evolves with scale | Part 2/2 with Paul Hletko of FEW Spirits and Goza Tequila (Chicago, IL, USA)

In this episode of the Maffeo Drinks Podcast, we continue interviewing Paul Hletko, Founder of FEW Spirits & Owner of Goza Tequila. FEW was part of the vanguard of the Craft Spirits Movement, with Paul leading the charge. They are a masterclass in building a drinks brand bottom up. I hope you enjoy our chat. Main Topics Discussed: Zero to One Bottle • Finding your target occasion •Bootstrapping Vs Investor Starts One Bottle to One Case • Is your target occasion scalable? • Adapting your drinking occasion • Winning distributors One Case to One Pallet •Advantages of a broad portfolio of drinks • Importance of Founder Field Visits, even when big •Transitioning to Indirect Sales About the Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chris Maffeo⁠⁠⁠⁠ About the Guest: Paul Hletko

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The show, which has been listened to in 100+ countries, covers the drinks and hospitality industries. With a no-nonsense approach, it focuses on how beverage brands are built from the ground up. Each episode brings insights on building a brand bottom up, from glass back to distilleries and breweries to grow from bottle to case to pallet. Host Chris Maffeo brings his 20 years of industry experience, building premium drinks brands across 30+ markets, from beer to whisky. He interviews drink founders, managers, bartenders, and distributors. Brands are built bottom-up. https://maffeodrinks.com