Bootstrapping & Investors | How the founder's role evolves with scale | Part 2/2 with Paul Hletko of FEW Spirits and Goza Tequila (Chicago, IL, USA) | 023
S1:E23

Bootstrapping & Investors | How the founder's role evolves with scale | Part 2/2 with Paul Hletko of FEW Spirits and Goza Tequila (Chicago, IL, USA) | 023

Summary

In this episode of the Maffeo Drinks Podcast, we continue interviewing Paul Hletko, Founder of FEW Spirits & Owner of Goza Tequila. FEW was part of the vanguard of the Craft Spirits Movement, with Paul leading the charge. They are a masterclass in building a drinks brand bottom up. I hope you enjoy our chat. Main Topics Discussed: Zero to One Bottle • Finding your target occasion •Bootstrapping Vs Investor Starts One Bottle to One Case • Is your target occasion scalable? • Adapting your drinking occasion • Winning distributors One Case to One Pallet •Advantages of a broad portfolio of drinks • Importance of Founder Field Visits, even when big •Transitioning to Indirect Sales About the Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chris Maffeo⁠⁠⁠⁠ About the Guest: Paul Hletko
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In this episode of the Maffeo Drinks Podcast, we continue interviewing Paul Hletko, Founder of FEW Spirits & Owner of Goza Tequila. FEW was part of the vanguard of the Craft Spirits Movement, with Paul leading the charge. They are a masterclass in building a drinks brand bottom up. I hope you enjoy our chat.


Main Topics Discussed:


Zero to One Bottle

• Finding your target occasion

•Bootstrapping Vs Investor Starts


One Bottle to One Case

• Is your target occasion scalable?

• Adapting your drinking occasion

• Winning distributors


One Case to One Pallet

•Advantages of a broad portfolio of drinks

• Importance of Founder Field Visits, even when big

•Transitioning to Indirect Sales


About the Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chris Maffeo⁠⁠⁠⁠

About the Guest: Paul Hletko


This Episode is hosted by Chris Maffeo and brought to you by MAFFEO DRINKS.

MAFFEO DRINKS is a leading drinks business podcast, listened to in 120 countries with 130+ episodes. How the industry actually works, from the bar and what it means for the boardroom.

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You get access to Maffeo Confidential (Private Podcast), this analysis, and the full catalog of 130+ episodes, each one translating industry conversation into the commercial decisions underneath it. Find out more at maffeodrinks.com or on Substack.


Creators and Guests

Chris Maffeo
Host
Chris Maffeo
Building Bottom-Up Strategies WITH Drinks Leaders Managing Top-Down Expectations | MAFFEO DRINKS Founder & Podcast Host
Paul Hletko
Guest
Paul Hletko
Founder & Distiller | FEW Spirits