Out the Box

NOW THAT'S A GOOD IDEA: STARSTOCK PLATFORM

StarStock bypasses wholesale

A new on-trade buying platform enables operators to order directly from major drinks brands, cutting out the traditional wholesale channel.

WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA?

Direct-to-Customer sales.

NOT DIRECT-TOCONSUMER?

No, a new first-of-its-kind ordering platform called StarStock says it will “help operators thrive” by allowing them to order directly from major drinks brands, “saving them valuable time and money.”

SO IT ON-TRADE ONLY?

Yes, but it’s another example of the traditional wholesale channel being cut out of the supply chain, something we’ve seen more and more often in retail.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Independent pub, club, bar, hotel and restaurant operators can order directly from a growing list of major drinks brands. StarStock says the platform “provides on-trade operators with the greater buying transparency they need to succeed in today’s challenging marketplace”.

WHICH BRANDS ARE INVOLVED?

A fairly impressive list including Asahi UK, Bacardi, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and Britvic. Additionally, StarStock says it has “the support” of the British Institute of Innkeeping along with major brewers and drinks brands such as Red Bull, Shepherd Neame, Theakston’s, Robinsons, Fever Tree, Kopparberg and a growing range of regional brewers.

WHO’S DOING THE LOGISTICS?

Rather than going down the traditional wholesale route, StarStock has partnered with GXO Logistics, a drinks logistics specialist in the UK and Europe. In addition to managing warehousing, order fulfilment and returns, GXO will oversee the delivery of products to venues that place online orders on the StarStock platform.

WHAT IS STARSTOCK SAYING?

Sam Ulph, Founder & CEO, said: “The pandemic has shone a light on the value of local independent businesses to their customers and communities. Now, as they begin to recover and rebuild, it’s time to do things differently.

“StarStock disrupts what has, until this point, been an unmodernised supply chain model. Our platform enables independent operators to order all their favourite brands directly from the businesses that manufacture them – a genuine marketplace for the licensed trade. Our solution creates a much more transparent marketplace that gives value back to the operator and brand owner, along with the convenience of 24/7 ordering and national consolidated deliveries.”

WHAT IS ASAHI SAYING?

Sam Rhodes, Marketing Director, said: “Asahi UK is delighted to collaborate with StarStock as its super premium and premium lager category partner. Its e-commerce platform will provide a valuable tool for the on-trade at this difficult commercial time, providing convenience and efficiency to customers whilst extending the reach of our brands.”

HOW DO I FIND OUT MORE?

Visit starstock.co.uk.