Cider Corner: Data-Driven Insights That Can Elevate Operations and Profitability

Tracking metrics helps gauge the functionality and performance of your cidery by providing actionable insights into various aspects of the business. 

Data from these metrics provides a solid foundation for making strategic decisions about production, marketing, and operations and identifying inefficiencies and areas for improvement helps streamline operations and boost productivity. Regularly monitoring financial metrics ensures you maintain a healthy cash flow and profitability while understanding customer preferences and feedback helps improve product quality and customer service, leading to higher satisfaction and loyalty.

“There isn’t a one size fits all metric set to ‘ensure success’ or whatever people sell,” pointed out High Point Cider’s Andrew Perez. “That said, I am in no way advocating for zero metrics and flying blind. To develop the right set of metrics, how you track them, how frequently you review them, and how you define success for each of them, are only questions you and your organization can answer. Those are the metrics that will drive success, and that approach ensures successful utilization, adoption and stakeholder buy in. 

“Any system is only as good as the people that use it. The right metrics won’t be overly burdensome and will deliver far more value than the inputs to track them.”

Two Rivers founder Vincent Sterne told Brewer that they check the Square POS reports daily while also keeping an eye and ear on personal feedback from staff and customers.

Draft versus off-prem sales from the same time last year is an indicator that Noble Cider likes to track while Golden State regularly reviews scan data and depletion metrics to understand how its cider products are performing off-premise. 

“We look at velocity rates, distribution and market share to evaluate ourselves against our competitive set,” said Director of Marketing Breanne Heuss.

READ MORE: Cider Corner: The Reason Continued Education Matters for Your Production Team

Perez said to start with the end goal in mind. 

“Define what success for your organization looks like,” he said. “Now with that in mind, for your taproom, for your distributed market — is that the same definition of success? 

“From there think about what you need daily/weekly/monthly to achieve that version of success.”

Tracking key metrics supports sustainable growth by ensuring you have the right resources and strategies in place to expand your operations. By regularly monitoring these metrics, you can gain a comprehensive view of your cidery’s operations, financial health, and market position. This data-driven approach enables you to make informed decisions, optimize processes, improve product quality, and ultimately enhance profitability and growth.

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