Spirits Drawback

Case Study: Drawback Program Planning & Execution

We are honored to have our efforts implementing Drawback with an international spirits corporation documented in a Case Study by Catena Solutions. Their highlight is as follows:

Drawback Program Planning & Execution

2 minute read

The Client

International Premium Spirits Company

The Challenge

The client identified a significant opportunity to improve margins by reclaiming millions of

Key challenges included:

The novelty of the initiative and the scale of the organization, which demanded cross-functional alignment.
Difficulty securing executive-level buy-in, requiring a compelling strategic narrative to generate understanding and enthusiasm.
Resistance from employees who were asked to work beyond the scope of their roles.
New geopolitical realities and constantly evolving trade negotiations made increasing margins more critical than ever.

The Solution

An Innovation Strategist with more than 15 years of experience leading cross-functional initiatives in the alcoholic beverages sector, including supply chain, tariff & financial management.

The consultant’s approach centered on:

Building a clear project management framework to recover excise taxes by reducing tariff exposure and aligning supply chain operations with Drawback requirements.
Implementing a tailored innovation stage-gate process to prioritize initiatives and create a clear execution path.
Streamlining the product portfolio to align with supply chain requirements for tariff recovery.
Equipping leadership with targeted communication materials and talking points to build stakeholder support and overcome internal resistance.

The consultant’s experience as a spirits industry startup founder provided a holistic perspective and the ability to lead cross-functionally. Their track record in creating innovative solutions, including spearheading the first direct-to-consumer alcohol initiatives, enabled them to apply operational, regulatory, and tariff expertise creatively, which quickly connected siloed functions and reinvigorated a stalled initiative.

The Benefit

Positioned the company for potential tariff savings of up to $100 million annually
Brought fresh perspective and momentum to a critical opportunity
Realigned the project with executive priorities
Overcame organizational resistance and clarified priorities
Shifted the company’s strategic lens from a brand-by-brand to a category-level approach, accelerating adoption across broader product lines