Episode 69

069 | Felice Capasso | Bringing Clarity to Spirits Consumers | Sesto Senso Academy

In episode 69 of the Maffeo Drinks Podcast, Chris continues his conversation with Felice Capasso, diving deep into consumer misconceptions in the alcohol industry and how brand advocacy should be approached.

They examine consumers' misunderstandings about production processes, using the example of whisky from Scotland.

They also discuss the importance of educating consumers and professionals, the difference between creating a trend and establishing a category, and how to stand out in a crowded market.

Real-life analogies, like Italian food specialties, help illustrate the nuances of education and branding.

Additionally, the episode touches on the importance of retention in the hospitality industry's workforce and how brands can use logical, fact-based approaches to educate and engage effectively. 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 00:29 Consumer Misunderstandings in the Spirits Industry 03:59 The Importance of Open-Mindedness and Education 06:39 Creating and Defining Categories in the Spirits Industry 9:53 Pragmatic vs. Fluffy Storytelling 19:37 Building Category VS Cannibilizing Category 30:49 The Role of Education and Retention in the Industry 40:30 Closing Remarks and Contact Information

About The Host: Chris Maffeo

About The Guest: Felice Capasso

About the Podcast

Show artwork for The MAFFEO DRINKS Podcast
The MAFFEO DRINKS Podcast
Brands Are Built Bottom-up.

About your host

Profile picture for Chris Maffeo

Chris Maffeo

With 20 years of experience working for some of the biggest drinks brands across 30+ markets, I've developed a unique understanding of how brands grow in today's market.
Now, I help drinks brands build sustainable growth through bottom-up demand creation.
My methodology focuses on how brand demand spreads - from initial venue adoption to international expansion.
I teach brands how to create, convert, and sustain demand across the three critical stages of growth: from one bottle to one case to one pallet.
My expertise lies in understanding how brands grow through genuine advocacy, from bar to bar, city to city, and building foundations that enable natural scaling.
Through consulting, training, and speaking engagements, I help brands:
• Build sustainable demand from the ground up
• Systematize their approach to building brands city by city
• Navigate the path from local success to international growth
• Develop strategies based on occasions rather than demographics