Consumers prefer premium stores

Nowadays consumers prefer liquor retail stores with good ambience and infrastructure, which can lead to improved footfall. Also, consumers are looking for a variety of alcobev brands from various companies as they are well- informed through social media about new brands that are coming into the state, says Ravi Kumar Panasa, Managing Director, ML Spirits, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. 

Ravi Kumar Panasa is well cognizant about the growing choices of consumers and feels that for keeping the retail store up to date, multiple brands, which are in demand need to be available at all times. “Most of the brands are currently unavailable in our store,” he laments.

Impressive Stock

With them imported Scotch whiskies like Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Jameson’s, Chivas, Black Label, Red Label, Dalmore, Jack Daniel’s, John Barr, Elijah Craig, Monkey Shoulders, Toki, etc are available. Same is the case with Shooters like Jägermeister, Molinari Sambuca, Fireball and tequilas.

Liqueurs like Baileys, Amaro Montenegro, Amarula, and beers like Bira 91, Corona, Hoegaarden, Budweiser, Kingfisher, and Peroni(Imported); gins like Bombay Sapphire, Tanqueray 10, Ginarte and Roku are present in the store. Vodka brands like Absolut, Beluga, Grey Goose, Belvedere, Roberto Cavalli, Stoli are also noticeable by their presence at the outlet.

He says that in the post-Covid times, now people prefer to go to premium outlets, seek knowledge on premium products and graduate to better and high-end brands. “This pushes our sales,” he shares. 

The Managing Director however laments that a good number of imported brands are missing from their shelves as imported retail liquor is being purchased from far off states and their availability is never certain.

According to him, Hyderabad faces no challenge of cross border purchase as there is price parity, thereby there is no negative impact on sales because of that. “But some people buy imported brands from the states like Haryana and Goa where prices are much lower,” he do observe.

Customer Profile and Service

As for customer profile, ML Spirits’s customers are drawn from the film industry, and also include politicians, businessmen, bureaucrats, techies and software professionals. As for women shoppers, they comprise a highly impressive 40 percent of their customers. Payment facilities like UPI and card payments are available at their outlet.

Ravi Panasa takes due care of customer services because he feels that it plays an important role in building the brand value and credibility of the store. His team gives time and their expertise to those consumers who seek some advice before purchasing their products. “Consumers’ satisfaction is important for us and we always pay attention to their needs and queries,” avers Ravi Panasa.