The Art and Science of Building a Spirits Brand for Acquisition

Food & Beverage Talk by Morgan & Westfield

View the complete show notes for this episode.

“If you build it, they will come” is an expression that applies to starting a company as well as a baseball field. Thinking about what buyers want and avoiding the pressure to sell in a specific timeframe can help you increase your company’s value when the time comes to sell. With 25 years in M&A in the wine and spirits industry, Guillaume Thomas helps sellers understand what buyers look for in a consumer brand. He also shares how he has used these same lessons to start his own company, which has grown out of his four-generation family cognac business.

What You’ll Learn

• Branding: How to build a consumer brand with long-term value and growth potential in mind in the age of social media and influencers.
• Exit Planning: How planning for the eventual sale of a business can impact growth, including what the drivers are behind multiples and how they change specifically in the spirits industry.
• Valuation: The importance of realistic valuations, the impact they have on negotiations, and why it is critical to understand the buyer’s motivations.
• Sales and Marketing: Focus on building brand loyalty with customers and end consumers since the reorder rate is a critical metric in consumer goods for strategic buyers.

Want More? Related Resources:

• Selling a Business: A High-Level Overview
• Business Valuation Basics: 9 Critical Concepts to Understand
• Business Exit Plan & Strategy Checklist | A Complete Guide
• Preparing Financial Statements When Selling a Business

Additional Resources:

• Planning to sell your business? Schedule a free consultation today.
• Download a free PDF copy of The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business, Acquired: The Art of Selling a Business With $10 Million to $100 Million in Revenue, and Food and Beverage M&A: An Insider’s Guide to Selling a Food or Beverage Manufacturing, Distribution, or Grocery Business.
• Purchase your copy now of A Beginner’s Guide to Business Valuation | The Exit Strategy Handbook | Closing the Deal

Listen to Other Episodes

• You’ll Never Get Pricing Right, But How Can You Get Better with Mark Stiving
• The Emotional Rollercoaster of Buying or Selling a Business with Drew Bisping
• Financial Due Diligence – Why It’s Important to Prepare for the Sale of Your Company with Patrick O’Connell
• Top Criteria a Corporate Acquirer Looks for in an F&B Company with Ben Cosgrove