The USA Trade Tasting event was held in NY this week generating rave reviews from attendees and exhibitors. “The USA Trade Tasting is the first and only truly independent and international bev. alc. trade show in the U.S. Our goal was to provide a forum at which all three tiers of the system could interact, taste and explore business opportunities,” said Sid Patel, CEO of Beverage Trade Network and founder of the event.
“I surveyed the exhibitors and the response I heard from across the range of exhibitors was overwhelmingly positive. The focus of the event was on the ‘business of the business’ with many exhibitors commenting on the quality of the attendees and the resulting contacts teed up for deal discussions,” said Steve Raye, President of organizer Bevology.
An innovative and exciting part of the event was a series of fast-paced Brand Pitches described as “Shark Tank in a Bottle” where suppliers got a chance to present their brands to a very select audience of distributors and importers looking for new products. “As two examples of just how successful the program was, P&F Wineries reported receiving 15 solid leads and follow up appointments,” Raye said. “And a really creative microbrewery from Scotland caught the attention of a prospective importer who traveled from Western Canada to see what’s new on the market.” The wide variety of creative new products reinforced how vibrant the industry is and drew attendees from across the U.S. as well as internationally.
In addition to a walk around tasting, the event featured a series of sold-out Masterclasses by Wines of South Africa, Vinho Verde, Wine Australia and Uncork New York.
180 wine, beer, spirit and cider suppliers participated in the event. “We’ve already committed to expanding the USA Trade Tasting in 2017, and are in talks with many suppliers who have seen the success of the inaugural event,” BTN’s Patel said.
The event concludes March 23rd with a full day educational conference where industry luminaries will be delivering TED-type talks with a focus on the practical information new suppliers need to know to navigate the complexities of the U.S. market.
