88 | The $1 Billion Beverage Season Problem Nobody Talks About

Summer beverage season is one of the biggest opportunities (and biggest stress tests) for CPG brands. In this episode, the Zipline Logistics team breaks down the chaos behind “Memorial Day Madness” and why beverage season can make or break a brand’s retail performance. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, demand spikes, freight capacity tightens, and retailers become even less forgiving. Jesse Juett, Teddy Lee Knox, and Andrew Lynch unpack the real cost of out-of-stocks, OTIF failures, chargebacks, and poor forecasting—including the staggering stat that brands lose billions during peak beverage season due to inventory gaps alone. The conversation also dives into: Why beverage season starts earlier than most brands think How strong logistics partnerships protect retailer relationships The inventory and communication strategies top beverage brands use Why lead times and retail appointments matter more than ever Real-world examples of brands that consistently execute well during peak season Whether you’re a beverage brand, CPG founder, retailer, or logistics professional, this episode is packed with practical insights to help you prepare for the busiest season of the year (before the rush hits). Learn more about beverage season: https://ziplinelogistics.com/blog/the-1-billion-beverage-season-problem/ Connect with Zipline Logistics: https://linktr.ee/ziplinelogistics Chapters (00:00:00) - Getting your freight on the shelf(00:00:46) - Andrew Lynch(00:01:09) - Peak Beverage Season(00:01:56) - Vacation Season(00:04:28) - Bottle Talk: The(00:05:29) - Canon Distributors: Peak Beverage Season(00:11:01) - Retailers: Consumer demands for inventory during peak season(00:11:45) - Beverage Companies: Raise OTIF to 95%(00:14:17) - Zipline's Collaboration with Brands(00:19:37) - Lead Time and Flexibility: How To Dominate the Transportation(00:24:50) - Costco Supply Chain: Summer Snacking(00:29:06) - Peak Beverage Season