Brian Quinn
Moving Forward Together: Crafting Strategic Partnerships with Raw Materials Suppliers
Selecting the right raw materials vendors and maintaining those relationships over time is vital to the success of both new and established breweries. With the rising cost of raw materials, high freight costs, tariff uncertainty, and an influx of new raw materials vendors into the craft brewing space, crafting strategic vendor partnerships has never been more important or more challenging for craft breweries. In the dynamic, fast paced world of brewing, effective communication and transparency between brewers and vendors is paramount, but often missing from the equation. This session will explore key considerations for breweries as they select new raw materials vendors or change vendors, and strategies on how to best maintain these partnerships over time to ensure the relationship remains healthy and mutually beneficial.
Learn insights into the best way to maintain and manage these vital relationships between breweries and their vendors, including raw material vendor selection, shifting business to a new vendor, navigating hop and malt contracts, special pricing agreements and strategies for cost savings, brewery-vendor communication and relationship maintenance, freight considerations, quality audits, and pros and cons of "One Stop Shop" vendors vs. smaller/specialized raw materials suppliers.
Brian Quinn, Co-Founder/Director of Brewing Operations, Atomic Clock Brewing
Brian Quinn began his craft beer career in North Carolina over a decade ago. After completing the Siebel Institute Master Brewer Program, he worked at multiple breweries in the Southeast in a variety of roles gaining experience in brewing, sales, and operations, as well as working in malt and hop sales. Brian has a passion for brewing education and beer history, and is actively involved in non-profit work geared towards expanding the craft beer community through the Many Faces Initiative. He currently serves as the Director of Brewery Operations at Atomic Clock Brewing in Durham, NC, which he co-founded with his sister in 2024.
