Restaurant’s Pandemic Adjustments

What’s Here To Stay For The Industry

An article posted in early July on rebusinessonline.com entitled “Retail, Restaurant Industries Embrace Post-Pandemic Design Shifts” addresses the post-pandemic shifts in consumer behavior, as the ease of ordering online with multiple pickup and/or delivery options has become the norm over the past few years. Although the pandemic is behind us, the behaviors consumers adopted are not, and consumer behaviors and expectations when it comes to shopping, dining, and drinking have changed, and businesses are paying attention. Let’s take a closer look at how restaurants are adapting.

The article identifies Border Foods, one of the largest privately held Taco Bell franchises in America, as one restaurant that has worked to create a new restaurant concept designed around the established fast-food model – but an elevated experience, with two-stories and four drive-thru lanes. Josh Hanson, founder and CEO at Vertical Works and WORKSHOP (the company behind the Border Foods redesign), states that their goal was to offer a “highly personalized customer experience” and that “the pandemic accelerated this expectation, as retailers were forced to connect with consumers in new ways.”

To read the full article – check out The Advisor Magazine – Issue 18.

 

 

Time For Nine

Grandfathering Off Premise Licenses

November 8, 2022 is a date that all liquor store owners should have circled on their calendar as a lot rides on the outcome of a proposed ballot question for 21st Century Alcohol Reform bill.

Most recently, more than 19,000 signatures from the public were filed in support of the reform, which over time would gradually increase the current number of licenses available to a single retailer from 9 to 18 by 2031.

Why is the number 9 so important?

As previously mentioned in Retail Tier Reform: Looming 21st Century Alcohol Changes in Issue #17 of The Advisor, the license cap for the sale of all alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, and liquor under the same license) would be reduced from 9 to 7. Retailers will be allowed more licenses overall; however, the cap for all alcoholic licenses will be lower.

For retailers who are currently near or wanting to capture the 9 license limit, they will have to pick up licenses quickly and start now.

With the cap increasing and the quota remaining the same, simple economics of supply and demand suggest that anyone who has a controlling interest in multiple stores, specifically those with all alcoholic licenses will greatly benefit.

For successful retail owners with great ambitions of increasing their capacity, this is not a time to “wait and see”. Your climb to nine licenses has to start now while there’s still time to get them under agreement.

Waiting around on the sidelines to see what happens won’t work and in fact will be too late. If you need a plan, we’re here for you. Call us any time at 781-319-9800.

To read the full article – check out The Advisor Magazine – Issue 18.

 

 

Saving Mom & Pop Shops

Vote YES To Question 3 on November 8, 2022

On Friday, July 15, the Mass Pack Association announced to its membership that the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth has confirmed that the Association’s ballot initiative petition (the “Expanded Availability of Licenses for the Sale of Alcohol Beverages”) will appear on the ballot as Question #3 this November. The announcement proclaimed, “Not since the repeal of Prohibition has an issue of this importance within our industry been put to voters. This is historic.”

The announcement, put forth by Ryan Maloney, President of MassPack and owner of Julio’s Liquors in Westborough, MA; and Benjamin Weiner, Chair of the 21st Century Alcohol Retail Reform Committee and owner of Sav-Mor Spirits in Somerville, MA, comes after a year-long process that involved signature campaigns and the tireless efforts of the Mass Pack Association to bring awareness to their membership and to the general public.

The announcement breaks down just exactly what a YES vote in November entails:

  • A YES vote in November will expand convenience by gradually increasing the number of allowed beer and wine licenses from nine

  • (9) to eighteen (18), minus any full liquor licenses owned. Most states allow three (3) to five (5) full liquor licenses. The number of liquor licenses in Massachusetts will be capped at seven (7);

  • A YES vote also enhances public safety and encourages vigilance by retailers through prohibiting self-checkout of alcohol beverages and by basing the fine for selling to a minor on a store’s total sales and not just its alcohol sales; and

  • A YES vote additionally supports state tourism and brings Massachusetts in line with every other state in the country by allowing for valid out of state IDs to be relied upon by alcohol beverage retailers.

A July 7 ballotpedia.org article entitled “Two Massachusetts ballot initiatives filed a second round of signatures for a spot on the November ballot” explains the somewhat convoluted process of a ballot initiative becoming a question on the ballot, stating that: “The process for initiating state statues in Massachusetts is indirect, which means the legislature has a chance to approve initiatives with successful petitions directly without the measure going to the voters” and that “[the initiative] submitted the required 3% of signatures in December 2021 and were presented to the state legislature in early 2022. Since the state legislature did not act on the initiatives by May 4, the initiatives were cleared to gather a second round of 13,374 signatures to qualify for the November ballot.”

The Daily News reported on July 9 (and then updated the report on July 13) that “[the proposal] to expand retail beer and wine sales…cleared a final hurdle to the November ballot,” which is positive reinforcement to local liquor stores who believe that small business in Massachusetts is under attack and that they are fighting for their survival by undertaking the ballot initiative, which has now become a reality as Question #3 on November’s ballot.

Support local liquor store businesses by making A YES vote on Question #3 in November!

To read the full article – check out The Advisor Magazine – Issue 18.

 

 

Summer Drink Trends For 2022

What’s Hot For Cooling Off In The Heat

A recent bevalcinsights.com report featuring “Drizly’s Top Predictions for Summer 2022 Sales” provides some great insight as to what consumers plan to drink this summer as temperatures – and travel – heats up. This summer, recovering retailers can capitalize on consumer preferences and their desire to experience the local flavor after being homebound for summers’ past. It’s no surprise that people generally reach for more refreshing beverages during the hot summer months; however, as beverage trends have shifted, what refreshing beverages people will reach for is the key question this summer.

According to Drizly’s report, white wine and light lagers have experienced more popularity than usual this year, which suggests that this popularity will only increase during the summer months.

Ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails continue to enjoy massive popularity, and it seems that they may replace hard seltzers as the #1 go-to for summer celebrations. One reason why RTD are gaining popularity may be because people are considering more what they are putting into their bodies, opting for more natural choices. Liz Paquette, Drizly’s head of consumer insights, notes that, “The RTD category continues to grow and gain awareness among consumers. Consumers are becoming more educated on what is in the drinks they are choosing – like vodka-based cocktails versus malt-based seltzers – as well as seeking new flavor innovation.”

As red wine has recently increased in popularity, especially amongst younger consumers, white wine may also increase in popularity this summer, as it has increased in shares since 2021, and wine lovers may opt for the cooler, more refreshing wine option during the summer months.

Summer vacations are also amping up this summer with restrictions lifting and people wanting to make up for lost time and delayed travel. And it seems that increasing gas prices and unpredictable air travel won’t stop them: a June 21, 2022, AAA article reports that the ultimate summer holiday – the 4th of July – will see a high volume of people hit the roads and the airlines this holiday: “AAA predicts 47.9 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home over the holiday weekend (June 30 – July 4)…The biggest surprise – car travel – will set a new record despite historically high gas prices with 42 million people hitting the road.”

Once vacationers reach their destinations, many will opt for local beverages, which both on and off-premise operators can capitalize on by ensuring they have plenty of local offerings in stock and strategies to market them. Many travellers will also opt for the tropical vibe, as many will travel to tropical places or will just want to embrace the laid-back lifestyle it suggests.

Drizly reports that many popular brands are offering tropical options, such as TRULY Hard Seltzer, High Noon, Corona, and even Bud is offering a Bud Light Hard Seltzer Tropical Cocktail Hour as a limited edition variety pack.

Despite high gas prices, unsettling air travel, and covid not being completely over, consumers are ready to travel and celebrate not only the 4th of July, but summer and the return of the laid-back, refreshing vibe that summer has always encompassed. ~

To read the full article – check out The Advisor Magazine – Issue 17.

 

 

More Liquor Licenses Likely Coming To Boston For On Premise Use

Home Rule Petition Coming To The City of Boston

A Home Rule Petition was filed on April 1, 2022 regarding the allocation of liquor licenses in the City of Boston, as supporters of the petition argue that there is a disproportionate distribution of liquor licenses across the city and that “the well-documented racial wealth gap in Boston shows that it is crucial for MWBE’s [Minority/Women-Owned Business Enterprises] to have equitable access to liquor licenses in order to advance economic equity”.

The petition requests that 200 non-transferable licenses (meaning that if the business closes, the license would go back to the city) over a three-year period be distributed to establishments with a capacity of 50 people and under in the following neighborhoods: Dorchester, Mattapan, Roxbury, and Hyde Park, where there is currently a lack of licenses. For example, the petition points out that out of the 1,432 liquor licenses in Boston, Mattapan holds only ten of them.

It is proposed that all liquor licenses in the City of Boston shall increase by at least 10% over a ten year period. These licenses are for on premise use only, and because they would be non-transferable, these licenses would be given back to the City of Boston if revoked or canceled, to grant an application with the same requirements.

 

WCVB5 Boston commented on the petition in an April 7 update, describing it as “a tool for addressing the city’s racial wealth gap”. Likewise, an April 17 Boston Globe article entitled, “Waiting for liquor license reform in Boston”, comments on the petition, stating that: “Reforming liquor license law isn’t ultimately about booze. It’s about economic opportunity”. The article argues that because liquor license holders tend to open establishments in wealthier parts of the city, the less wealthy neighborhoods are hurting. The article also calls out Boston’s state-imposed hard cap on restaurant liquor licenses as being “antiquated and stubborn…a vestige of a bygone time”.

On June 16th, 2022, a City Council Committee on Government Operations hearing was held regarding important matters for the City of Boston, including this home rule petition, which consists of two Dockets: Docket #0465 and #0435.

Docket #0465 is the Petition for a Special Law Regarding an Act Authorizing Additional Licenses for the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages to be Drunk on the Premises in Boston, with sponsors being Councilors Brian Worrell, Ruthzee Louijeune, and Ricardo Arroyo. Docket #0435 is the Petition for a Special Law Regarding An Act Authorizing the City of Boston to Grant Four Additional Licenses for the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages to be Drunk on the Specified Premises, with sponsors being Councilors Ruthzee Louijeune and Julia Mejia. If you were unable to attend the hearing, we’ve got you covered with an overview of the discussion to provide you with the most current updates.

To read the full article – check out The Advisor Magazine – Issue 17.

 

 

Restaurant Revitalization Ends

Restaurants Face Closing

A sobering May 19 article from the Independent Restaurant Coalition claims that at least 50% of restaurants could close after the senate does not pass funding for struggling restaurants. Sponsored by Senator Roger Wicker and Senator Ben Cardin, The Small Business COVID Relief Act hoped to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), which 90 senators voted to create last February, with $40 billion. However, in a 52 to 43 vote, the funding did not pass.

According to Erika Polmar, Executive Director of the Independent Restaurant Coalition, more than half of the 177,300 restaurants waiting for this grant will close within the next few months. “Local restaurants expected help and the Senate couldn’t finish the job”, according to Polmar. The report states that at least 90,000 restaurants and bars have closed since the beginning of the pandemic, which is when the Independent Restaurant Coalition originated.

In 2021 alone, nearly 300,000 restaurants applied for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants, but nearly 200,000 didn’t receive the funding. Here are some interesting statistics from the article:

– 42% of businesses that did not receive RRF grants are in danger of filing for or have filed for bankruptcy, compared to just 20% that received RRF grants.

– 28% of businesses that did not receive RRF grants have received or are anticipating receiving an eviction notice compared to just 10% that received RRF grants.

– Restaurant and bar owners who did not receive an RRF grant are taking on more personal debt. 41% of people that did not receive RRF reported taking out new personal loans to support their businesses since February of 2020. This is only true for 19% of businesses that received an RRF grant.

– 46% of businesses reported that their operating hours were impacted for more than 10 days in December 2021.

– 58% of businesses reported that their sales decreased by more than half in December 2021. If you are a restaurant or bar owner who is looking to sell your liquor license because of the current difficult climate in this industry, give us a call. We have qualified buyers waiting and are here for you.

 

For More Liquor License articles – check out The Advisor Magazine – Issue 16.

 

 

20 Years In The Boston & Massachusetts Liquor License Business

What’s Next?

Twenty years is a long time to reflect back on and recall some incredible stories!

Some of the main characters who influenced my career path include Howard Deering Johnson, Donnie Wahlberg, Charlie Perkins, and of course, Dick Newcomb, my Father and original creator/owner of the Mug ‘n Muffin restaurants.

Our original family restaurant business started in 1965 in Wollaston, Massachusetts, the birthplace of one of America’s best-known restaurant chains, Howard Johnson’s (HoJo’s). My Dad’s new restaurant, named Mug ‘n Muffin, was opened in July 1965, only 1.5 years after I was born, so I was essentially born into the family business. Even as a young kid, I was involved as my Dad grew his business, which had evolved to 26 restaurants by the early 1980’s.

I grew up flipping eggs and burgers at my family’s restaurant, and before I was old enough to do that, I watched guys like Bobby Orr and other decorated Boston Bruins stop in for coffee, as one of the main restaurants was conveniently located across from the old Garden. Over the years, I watched my Dad negotiate with vendors and landlords and I now realize that I was getting a front-row seat to a real-life masterclass in influence before I was old enough to drive. I knew I wanted to be a restaurant owner and run my Dad’s business.

After I graduated college in 1986, we re-developed the concept, worked hard, and I was able to grow from two to four restaurants that I managed for the family. A lot of work and stress brought a lifestyle I didn’t want to maintain as my own family grew.

Ironically, my Dad’s restaurant was a regular host to AA groups, and I’ve been sober since March 28, 1988.

 

To see how the next 20 something years go – check out The Advisor Magazine – Issue 16.

 

 

The Liquor License COVID Response Program

Liquor License Advisor is pleased to announce the launch of our Liquor License COVID Response Program for Boston and area restaurants, bars and other on-premise licensed establishments. Over the past 6 months, we have been approached by many owners who were looking for specific advice about their current situation and options.

The was a common theme and questions that kept coming up and the more owners we talked to, the more we knew we had to do something more to support the Boston restaurants who have supported us all of these years.

The program allows a quick assessment by our team of liquor license professionals to help you evaluate what your potential options are and what’s next. For full details on the program, see the info below or reach out to our office at (781)319-9800 any time to schedule a private conversation about your unique situation.

You’ve worked hard and deserve the best possible outcome for you and your business – we’re here for you. Give us a call at (781)319-9800.

 

 

Predictions For 2021 Holiday Liquor Sales In Massachusetts

Last holiday season was unprecedented, as COVID turned many large gatherings into small or virtual ones, and the most wonderful time of the year looked much different for most. People thought it was safe to assume that by the 2021 holiday season life would have returned to normal, and that holiday gatherings and spending would gain momentum.

Enter Delta variant and renewed restrictions in certain areas, and it looks like consumer trends may continue to shift. BevAlc recently released their top predictions for 2021 holiday sales, which highlights the uncertainty surrounding consumer behaviors during the months leading up to the start of 2022. Let’s take a closer look.

Before delving into what people will be consuming this holiday season, it is probably more notable to consider how they will be consuming. Celebrations will be mixed this year, as BevAlc reports that less than half of people surveyed will celebrate like they did in 2019, while a majority’s holidays will resemble those of 2020. Many are hesitant to make big plans in the ever-changing climate that has become pandemic life, and there will likely be a mix of pre-pandemic and pandemic celebrations.

Holidays wouldn’t be the holidays without gifts, and BevAlc believes that many gifts will continue to be purchased online this season. Drizly has reported significant growth in the gift giving sector, with share expanding from just 9% in 2019 to 20% by the end of 2020.

Retailers must pay attention to this significant shift, as it presents a valuable opportunity for them. Liz Paquette, Drizly’s head of consumer insights, comments that, “This is an awesome opportunity to drive valuable sales online”, as retailers can both acquire new customers online who perhaps wouldn’t normally frequent their store, as well as be introduced to new local shoppers.

People will be celebrating in different ways and making a lot of online purchases, but what will the drinks of choice be at these celebrations and for online purchases?

According to BevAlc’s report, tequila and whiskey will enjoy huge popularity, tequila making up 25% of liquor sales on Drizly.

Lander Otegui is the senior vice president of marketing at Proximo Spirits and remarked that “our customers like to enjoy tequila during celebratory moments”, and that “this is especially true during the holidays, a time when many are willing to spend more on premium offerings”.

Also making an appearance at holiday celebrations this year will be the newer-to-the-scene Ready to Drink cocktails. Drizly has reported an 85% increase in RTD sales, as hard seltzer sales decline and “RTDs could potentially be seen as a replacement for consumers for some secondary cocktail ingredients”, according to Paquette. If some are limiting their social interactions, hitting the liquor store or clicking around Drizly for the whole package might be all the rage this holiday season, rather than making multiple trips to multiple stores for cocktail ingredients.

And finally, champagne. “…in the U.S., Champagne is the wine for celebration”, according to Xavier Barlier, who is the senior vice president of marketing & communications at Maisons Marques & Domaines USA. Many felt cheated out of their 2020 holiday season, which is all the more reason to celebrate in 2021, whether at a small, socially distant gathering, a large reunion, or while catching up on Zoom. Champagne is also a great holiday and host gift, so people will be enjoying and gifting the bubbly.

“The more frustrated we get with COVID and Delta, “ comments Barlier, “the more we want to compensate. I think this year we’re going to splurge”.

For more articles on liquor licenses and liquor stores, check out our monthly magazine, The Advisor Magazine – Issue #9.

 

 

Planning Past The Pandemic For The Liquor License Industry

Date With Destiny

It seems as though the scales have officially flipped where business restrictions are fewer and far between, while news of phase progression is becoming constant. The country reopens, history is being made, and a new air of hopefulness is stretched across the nation as we retreat from our long hibernation. And what better to do than head straight to your local bar, restaurant, concert, or sports game, any and all things we’ve held out on for over a year now. And many of which -for some of us- means having a drink and letting loose!

Business and market analysts are honing in to see where this new era takes the trends of e-commerce, delivery, wellness, small businesses, and altered mindsets of their consumers. There is an entirely fresh layer to the new normal and hopefully, this one provides a well-rounded, stimulating boom to the world of commerce & consumerism.

SevenFifty [an online marketplace and communications platform that helps importers, producers, distributors, and retail buyers connect with each other and do business in a modern world] did a recent piece on the transformation of alcohol distribution, how e-commerce is becoming a key player, and how wholesalers are responding. One of the most significant periods of modernization since the three-tier system was created in 1933, the article states.

Us vs Them

This transformative era has made niche businesses a foot into direct-to-consumer as well, providing artisanal, craft brands where they hadn’t originally fit in at wholesalers. Speakeasy Co. is just one example of a modern niche platform that enables producers to customize order pages right on their own website that are then provided by Speakeasy via local retailers. As CEO Josh Jacobs puts it, “‘This provides a seamless front-end experience for consumers while handling the backend for brands,’ explains Jacobs. By managing warehousing, fulfillment, and technology for suppliers, they are freed up to ‘focus on growth by owning the data and building customer relationships.’”

Similar to this case, Spirit Hub, independent distillery-focused e-commerce that allows customers to order and have curbside pick-up at one of many national retailers that CEO Michael Weiss is working with. And for all the vinos, Wine must not be forgotten, as it poses as another niche that Vivino hopped into as a marketplace partnering with wineries directly that then fulfills the consumer’s order through a local retailer.

These companies rave that the ability to get into this business while it is a standout need in the market has given them free reign to do what they’re best at, “finding the producers and marketing and getting out there in the world and building these brands. It allows us to be a more nimble and focused company.” An importer of Elenteny Imports explains. (Elenteny provides distribution services in some states which allow importers and producers to sell directly to accounts; in other states, they provide logistics and freight-forwarding services and work with a licensed distributor.)

On the opposite end of the spectrum, wholesalers are pressured to create more value for their buyers and for their consumers. What used to be free cookies and a slice of cheese at the deli, or the newest product offering a tasting, is now at the tips of consumer’s fingers right from their own home! It’s social media marketing, instant gratification, engagement and stimulation.

The wholesalers still have the leg up when it comes to well-developed quality + quantity of mass distribution, communication, the vitality of sales, and suppliers, all factors critical and essential to the growth and longevity of any business.

On-Demand In High Demand

“These are the resources to really help a smaller brand grow and be successful.” Besides, he [Michael Epstein, COO of the Massachusetts-based Horizon Beverage] adds, wholesalers, need emerging brands: “You never know when a brand is going to pop and become a big brand. You need these developmental brands in your portfolio because it’s a dynamic marketplace.”

Eventually, to survive, any platform is always going to be looking for the next better, faster, and cheaper system to rely on. It seems as though it will soon be a meeting of the minds, as online platforms have the upper hand on the customer-facing side when it comes to marketing, ease of access, and modern innovation. “When a product is promoted on Drizly, Breakthru could quickly see a 150 percent increase in sales at its local retail customers; he predicts that 20 percent of alcohol in the U.S. will soon shift online.” Like many online platforms are partnering with retailers to get the best of both worlds, it will be exciting to see which businesses come together to create a master machine of transformative alcohol supply and distribution.

 

If you enjoyed this article, you’ll love our monthly publication, The Advisor Magazine – click to view more articles like this in The Advisor Magazine – Issue #3.

 

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