053 | Nailing Your City (Distribution) Strategy: How to Transform Brand Momentum into Velocity in the right venues | Part 2/2 with Justin Medcraft, Founder of Mate Maker (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
S2:E53

053 | Nailing Your City (Distribution) Strategy: How to Transform Brand Momentum into Velocity in the right venues | Part 2/2 with Justin Medcraft, Founder of Mate Maker (Los Angeles, CA, USA)

Summary

In Episode 053, I continued the conversation with Justin Medcraft from Episode 052, so feel free to listen to that as well. He is the Founder of Mate Maker Hard Kombucha. He brings a wealth of previous experience in Spirits and Beer. We discussed building demand for a start-up drinks brand, standing out amongst a sea of products, and focusing on building momentum. I hope you will enjoy our chat. One last thing: If you enjoy this podcast, you will also like the MAFFEO DRINKS Guides. You can subscribe free or paid on maffeodrinks.com Time Stamps 0:00 Intro 0:24 When To Open New Markets 10:31 Community Driven Marketing 15:45 Growing From Your Community 18:33 Getting The SKU In, Increasing Rotation 26:33 Advantages Of Small Brands 36:19 Discipline 39:15 Contacts 39:54 Outro About The Host: Chris Maffeo About The Guest: Justin Medcraft
Happy 2026. This Episode is hosted by Chris Maffeo and brought to you by MAFFEO DRINKS. A Deep-Dive Analysis of This Episode is Available at maffeodrinks.com

Celebrate with us our 3rd anniversary with a special 30% off forever at
maffeodrinks.com/anniversary  

In Episode 053, I continued the conversation with Justin Medcraft from Episode 052, so feel free to listen to that as well. He is the Founder of Mate Maker Hard Kombucha.

He brings a wealth of previous experience in Spirits and Beer. We discussed building demand for a start-up drinks brand, standing out amongst a sea of products, and focusing on building momentum.

I hope you will enjoy our chat.


One last thing: If you enjoy this podcast, you will also like the MAFFEO DRINKS Guides. You can subscribe free or paid on maffeodrinks.com


Time Stamps

0:00 Intro

0:24 When To Open New Markets

10:31 Community Driven Marketing

15:45 Growing From Your Community

18:33 Getting The SKU In, Increasing Rotation

26:33 Advantages Of Small Brands

36:19 Discipline

39:15 Contacts

39:54 Outro


About The Host: Chris Maffeo

About The Guest: Justin Medcraft


This episode is brought to you by MAFFEO DRINKS, an Advisory helping drinks leaders execute bottom-up growth while managing stakeholder expectations.

Celebrate with us our 3rd anniversary with a special 30% off forever at
maffeodrinks.com/anniversary  

Creators and Guests

Chris Maffeo
Host
Chris Maffeo
Building Bottom-Up Strategies WITH Drinks Leaders Managing Top-Down Expectations | MAFFEO DRINKS Founder & Podcast Host
Justin Medcraft
Guest
Justin Medcraft
Founder | Mate Maker