Beverage Business Insights Vol 23 No 126
Now a Consultant, Co-Packing Vet Grego Spills All on What He’s Learned in Bevs
In 28 yrs copacking other people’s bev concepts, you learn quite a bit about what works and what doesn’t work. That’s the experience Pete Grego is bringing to new advisory co he’s set up from his base outside Sacramento, Calif, as Pete Grego Beverage Business Consulting. In new role, Pete says he’s offering guidance on go-to-market planning, production, distribution, compliance and growth strategy. Those copacking road miles were traveled mainly at family-operated Nor-Cal Beverage, where Pete rose to vp co-pack sales, and then a coupla yrs at its acquirer Manna Beverages & Ventures, which ended up abruptly shutting it down. (Its plants in Sacramento and Anaheim were separately acquired by new owners and are back in operation, tho Grego opted to strike out on his own.) Earlier in his career, Grego spent a decade on retail side at Corti Brothers Market, where he managed beer and bevs, and then another 5 yrs on distrib side at Markstein Beverage and Bell Distributing.
We couldn't help wondering, what lessons has Pete gleaned from all those years in bevs? Here’s what he told us:
Relationships matter
Execution is key
Trends fade, but longevity wins.
Your network is everything
Data + Instinct = Winning Combination
Fail fast, adjust faster
Know the rules
Ultimately consumers decide
Reputation is everything
Play the long game to win
Prioritize empathy and communication
Coordination over speed
First impressions matter
Work hard to bridge the technical and commercial worlds
Do more than pay lip service to environmental sustainability and ethical best practices
