Alcahuz Distribuciones S.A.

The European beverage industry has long been dominated by giants, yet there are nimble, innovative entities that stand out not just for their products but for their ethos, practices and commitment to both their clients and the environment. One such firm is Alcahuz, a family-run business with a rich heritage and a clear vision for the future. Fueled by a commitment to quality, sustainability and personalised service, the beverage distribution company brews excellence in every sip.

Alcahuz Distributions prizes its long-standing relationships with distributors and clients. Its partnership with brewing giant Heineken, which spans an impressive 40 years, exemplifies the trust and mutual respect it commands in the industry.

The family business has evolved and redefined itself in the craft of beer distribution. In its primary sphere of operation, it is the official and exclusive distributor for the renowned Heineken Spain Group.

During Spain’s two-month lockdown in 2020, Alcahuz became a pillar of support for its hospitality and beverage distribution clientele. The company adeptly tackled challenges posed by the pandemic, including the mandated closure of restaurants and other establishments. Alcahuz offered critical consultations on business transformations, payment systems, and even quality improvement measures, effectively underscoring its commitment to equating its clients’ triumphs as its own.

Subsequently, the firm consulted, guiding businesses through the system, payment and quality management transformations. By bolstering clients’ social media presence, Alcahuz facilitated successful presentations and client retention, increasing market visibility and positioning themselves as esteemed partners of significant value. The most significant move was to defer all payments to its clients until they could recover from the hard blow that the pandemic dealt to everyone, with the consequent risk that this could pose for them.

Alcahuz redoubled its endeavours to build a customised delivery service. The firm is persistent in cultivating professionalism and a personalised approach while catering to its customer’s specific needs. Today Alcahuz Distribuciones participates as an official trainer in an ‘Online Master’ with the aim of further professionalizing its clients, showing new service and profitability strategies and promoting the development of the hospitality industry towards ever higher levels, always hand in hand of their clients.

“Our operations exemplify the essence of a family-owned enterprise—a commitment to nurturing and caring that distinguishes us from publicly traded corporations. We focus not only on the workforce but also on our clientele,” adds Gabriel Alcahuz, communications director and owner of Alcahuz.

Concurrently, the company places a strong emphasis on enhancing client interactions and product strategies. In this regard, its products possess a natural excellence akin to refined wines and exceptional beverages. It offers innovative, sustainable and ecological products, which include beers from the Heineken group, craft beers, canned and salted gourmet fish, organic, natural and vegan wines, organic extra virgin oil produced in Spain that are 100 percent circular and sustainable, and organic kombuchas and soft drinks, among other things.

Similarly, Alcahuz’s ability to adapt to the needs of the time is evident in its service offerings. Its commitment to providing personalised service ensures clients can expect delivery within 24 hours, complemented by weekend on-call support tailored to their needs and timings. This client-focused approach extends to stock management. In many cases, Alcahuz delivers the products and helps in the storage, enabling a seamless order-to-retrieval process showcasing a service that goes above and beyond.

Alcahuz operates an emergency service for weekends where clients can access their storage and retrieve items if supplies run low. In certain regions, the firm also dispatches delivery trucks.

The firm has recently unveiled an order application, transitioning from solely in-person communication to empowering end clients to place orders conveniently. Its platform, Eazel, operated by Heineken, provides clients with a direct ordering solution, invoice access and hospitality tutorials. It further assists companies in changing electricity contracts and includes a program for job seekers in the hospitality sector. The platform is already in operation, and will reach its full version at the beginning of next year in your company, which will allow the company to expand unique services to clients. Alcahuz also collaborates with various companies, including family businesses and wine producers.

The most compelling facet of Alcahuz’s operations is its steadfast commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles. The firm is making significant strides to reduce its carbon footprint, with solar panels generating 85 per cent of its electricity and plans to make 80 per cent of its truck fleet electric by the first quarter of 2024.

The company works with circular economy concepts historically, during the more than 40 years of existence for its products, which revolves around the established practice of delivering full bottles to customers and collecting empty ones for reuse. Recovering empty bottles and at the same time providing new stock guarantees that Alcahuz Distribuciones today recycles around 4,200,000 bottles a year and approximately 85,000 barrel containers, with the help of the Heineken Group.

Its collaborations with local sustainable producers, such as ‘Kilometro Zero’ and ‘Almazara la Senda’ (producer of 100 per cent circular premium organic oils, recently awarded a silver medal for the best international organic oil) and its efforts to reduce plastic consumption. They further solidify the company’s position as a leader in the distribution of sustainable food and beverages. In the future, its approach is to increase the circularity of its products with collaborations with companies specialized in recycling with an innovative system of participation in the supply chain.