Running a bar, pub, or restaurant has never been more challenging. Margins are tighter, costs are rising, and every decision - from staffing to stock - matters more than ever. And yet, one of the biggest cost areas for most venues is still managed in a surprisingly manual way: procurement, a.k.a buying your drinks stock.
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re getting the best price from your supplier, or if there’s a better option out there you might not even know about, you’re not alone.
The Reality of Buying Drinks in the UK Hospitality Industry
For many venue owners and operators, sourcing drinks looks something like this:
- You build a relationship with a wholesaler
- You place regular orders
- You trust that pricing is “about right”
And for a long time, that’s worked. But in today’s climate, things have changed.
Costs across the hospitality industry, from energy to ingredients, have increased significantly, putting pressure on already tight margins. At the same time, comparing supplier pricing hasn’t really evolved.
Many venues still rely on a single supplier and rarely review or re-tender their pricing, and often don’t have full visibility into what competitors are paying Not because they don’t care, but because it takes time, effort, and often a bit of discomfort to shop around.
Why It’s So Hard to Know If You’re Getting a Good Deal
Unlike other industries, drinks pricing isn’t always transparent.
Quotes can vary based on:
- Order volumes
- Product mix
- Existing relationships
- Regional availability
And unless you’re actively comparing multiple suppliers, it’s difficult to know where you stand.
That doesn’t mean your supplier is doing anything wrong; it just means the system isn’t designed to make comparison easy.
So… What’s the Alternative?
What if comparing drinks suppliers was simple, fast, and unbiased?
What if you could:
- See multiple quotes side-by-side
- Stay anonymous during the process
- Avoid awkward conversations or cold calls
- Make decisions based purely on value
That’s exactly what Liquid Market is built to do.
What Is Liquid Market?
Liquid Market is a platform designed to help hospitality venues compare drinks supplier quotes quickly, fairly, and anonymously.
Instead of reaching out to multiple wholesalers yourself, you can:
- Upload a recent invoice or product list
- Set your preferences (including who you don’t want quotes from)
- Receive competitive quotes from relevant wholesalers
- Compare pricing clearly and confidently
All without revealing your venue identity during the process.
Why This Matters Right Now
In today’s hospitality landscape, small improvements in cost control can make a big difference. Saving even a small percentage on your drinks spend can:
- Improve your margins
- Free up budget elsewhere
- Help you stay competitive
But more importantly, it gives you confidence—knowing that you’re making informed decisions, not just convenient ones.
Liquid Market is a hugely exciting change to the hospitality industry, with us venue operators in mind. Now, we can spend less time on the taxing task of stocking our bar and, with ease, ensure that we are getting the absolute best price and service when buying our drinks. - Jane Gillin, The Little Pub Group
A Better Way Forward for Hospitality Buying
Liquid Market isn’t about replacing wholesalers or disrupting relationships for the sake of it.
It’s about bringing:
- Transparency to pricing
- Efficiency to the quoting process
- Confidence to decision-making
So venue owners can spend less time chasing quotes—and more time running their business.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve never compared your drinks pricing, or haven’t done so in a while, now might be the right time. Not because anything is “wrong”, but because the industry has changed. And the way we buy should evolve with it.
👉 If you’re curious to see how your current pricing compares, Liquid Market makes it easy to find out - without the hassle.