Global consultancy for the drinks trade launches

A global consultancy for the drinks trade has launched, which promises to help producers maximise their performance potential at international competitions.

Called The International Drinks Specialists, the company is comprised of wine and spirits judges, buyers and production development specialists.

The consultancy aims to help beers, wines and spirits producers and brand owners with technical feedback to help them improve the quality of their offering.

“With the accumulated experience, insight and data of its members, IDS specialises in product evaluation and feedback, making it an important competition and awards entry strategy resource,” said IDS co-founder, Arthur Nägele.

“It was born from a desire to help distillers, brewers and winemakers with feedback and advice on what drinks competitions to enter and if they are ready to do so, using our experience as leading competition judges,” Nägele added.

Company co-founder, Tobias Gorn, describes the IDS as a coaching service for drinks producers.

“It’s a little like helping top athletes to get that extra 2-3% boost in their performance, to make sure they are closer to the trophy they aim to win.

“We are just advisers – the drinks makers are doing the real work, we simply use our experience to assist them,” he said.

The IDS offers those who use its services a score reflecting the quality and potential awards performance of the samples submitted for evaluation.

Its clients range from small craft distillers and brewers to award-winning wineries looking to quality test new products.