To generate a beverage industry lead you need to understand the dynamics of the beverage industry. Think of beverages as an offshoot of the food industry, and you will produce highly effective beverage sales leads. Beverage marketing today covers a wider variety of beverages than in the 1990s. There's much more product available than the old standby beverages -- soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, and bottled water. A newly expanded beverage market now sells micro-brewed beer, fortified water, exotic fruit juices, hard lemonade, energy drinks, green tea, and organic coffees.

1. Track trends and forecasts in the beverage industry in order to locate sources of beverage industry leads.
2. Tap into the expanding bottled water market for U.S. beverage sales leads.
3. Consider expanding your business overseas by seeking international beverage leads.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Target importers and exporters when seeking beverage industry sales leads

International importers and exporters make up a large market for the beverage industry. Look for directories in print or on CD-ROM. They can help you locate importers to increase your sales lead for beverage industry contacts. Geared to manufacturers, exporters, and trading companies, these directories provide carefully researched leads with extensive contact information and type of beverage being imported.

I recommend: The Bizeurope website lists beverage importers and distributors in Europe. The International Directory of Importers: Food & Beverage CD-ROM has access to thousands of importers.

Tap the large bottled and flavored water category to find water sales leads

Bottled water consumption has hit new highs in the U.S. Despite the controversy of bottled water versus tap water, bottled water is still a good buy. Water sales rank as the second largest commercial beverage category by volume. Only soft drinks rank higher.

I recommend: Contact the International Bottled Water Association and consult Market Research.com for information on the bottled water industry and access to water sales leads.

Buy beverage industry sales leads from beverage associations

Trade associations are experts of their industry and offer manufacturers and distributors inside information. Access to their mailing list of members is a great way to find beverage sales lead lists. Some associations allow you to customize your search based on product, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, geographic region, wholesale or retail, and other parameters.

I recommend: Check out the American Beverage Association. and the National Association of Beverage Importers. Also see Plunkett Research for beverage sales and marketing leads.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Sales of organic and fair trade certified beverages are soaring worldwide. Tap into this market when looking for beverage sales lead providers.
• •  You want to sell more beverages? Broaden your market reach? Pair beverages with appropriate food. Sell wine with cheese, beer with hot dogs, soft drinks with sandwiches, and coffee with pastry.
• •  Once you have acted on your lead, follow-up with clients on a regular basis. Don't lose contact or waste your beverage sales lead.