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by Restaurants
- June 9, 2025
Alcohol is one of the most important sources of revenue for restaurants. According to the National Restaurant Association, restaurants that have full-service alcohol menus make 21% of their revenue from drinks.
For restaurants to make the most of this section on their menu, they need to have a good relationship with a local liquor store or supplier. The restaurant cannot make liquor in-house, so having a reliable supplier that keeps the bar fully stocked is important for keeping customers happy.
This is how a good relationship with a liquor store can make running your restaurant smoother and ultimately drive sales.
Make Restocking Easier
Most liquor stores offer additional benefits to enterprise clients that retail clients do not receive. Some perks can include discounts for buying in bulk, personalized orders where the liquor store seeks out hard-to-find beverages on your behalf, and selection advice.
Reliable liquor stores also provide additional services that make coordinating logistics easier. These services, including local delivery service, can save you time and effort, which is crucial when you are managing local suppliers.
Choose a local liquor store to build a relationship with, as they are more likely to go above and beyond for local businesses. For California restaurants, a reliable local partner is Corked Redondo Beach. Corked Redondo Beach is a premium liquor store that offers an extensive selection of fine wines, rare and small-batch whiskies, bourbons, tequilas, craft beers, and other premium spirits.
Guarantee a Better Selection
Alcohol makes up one of the largest sales categories in a restaurant’s budget. It is also the category that is most profitable, as you can upsell it by a lot, and you are not investing labor power.
However, just putting alcohol on your menu is not enough to guarantee good sales. You also need to have a good selection. That is where a reliable liquor store as a partner can step in.
Working with a liquor store that has a wide selection and is willing to source beverages on your behalf can help you put together a beverage list that will be a hit. You want to have enough beverages on hand to impress customers, but not so many that you are paying for drinks that don’t sell.
Know What Sells
Anyone in the hospitality business will have some idea of what customers are looking for. This includes alcohol. However, liquor store professionals will know even better which drinks are selling.
A lot of alcohol sales are driven by buzz. Knowing what hyped-up type of wine customers are buying or what cocktails are selling fast can help you tailor your menu to maximize profits. This type of industry expertise from someone specializing in beverages is invaluable.
Building a Better Restaurant with Strong Relationships
Relationships are the foundation of a successful restaurant. Some of the most important relationships you will build are with your suppliers. Your local liquor store is one of those important suppliers that will keep your restaurant afloat.
Having a good relationship with your local liquor store can give you extra insight into the latest trends in the beverage world, plus access to a wide selection and convenient services such as local delivery. In an industry where alcohol actually makes up a bulk of the profits, having a good relationship with your alcohol supplier is crucial.
