Chicago, IL – November 3, 2025 – The Bartender Spirits Awards (BSA) today announced a new set of commercial growth benefits for its 2026 competition entrants, giving participating spirits brands access to verified buyers, direct-to-consumer sales tools, and AI-powered market intelligence.

Starting today, these new tools are live inside the Entrant Zone of the Bartender Spirits Awards platform, giving every entrant immediate access to real trade and consumer growth opportunities.

Two New Trade Benefits for Entrants with Six or More Products

1) CPGBuyerAI Buyer Matches

Entrants submitting six or more products will now receive 20 verified buyer matches through BTN’s proprietary AI platform, CPGBuyerAI. 

The system uses advanced AI and human verification to identify importers, distributors, and retail buyers most relevant to each brand’s category, style, and export goals. Each record includes a Fit Score and a reason for the match, helping producers prioritize their highest-potential leads and expand distribution with precision.

Brands will be shown the best-matched Bars, Venues, Spirits Shops, and Restaurants in the USA so they can start with an outreach to those accounts. For international brands that are not present in the USA, they can use the data and buyer contact details as a point to get started and get a reference on how their brands can be positioned. The platform can also help find spirits importers and distributors and do the matches at an additional cost.

2) Grow Direct-to-Consumer Sales with CPGBuyerAI’s Velocity

Entrants with six or more products will also unlock Velocity Exposure, a feature designed to help brands increase direct-to-consumer visibility and support their retail partners at the same time.

Through BTN’s Where-to-Buy network and AI-based new algorithm, the brand’s all products will be featured with direct retail and e-commerce links, while CPGBuyerAI’s Velocity system promotes these listings across BTN’s social and media channels — driving consumer awareness, retail traffic, and reorder velocity.

“These new benefits give producers measurable ROI from the moment you enter,” said Sid Patel, CEO of Beverage Trade Network. “The Bartender Spirits Awards have always celebrated quality; now we’re helping producers turn that recognition into verified buyer conversations and direct sales growth.”

Exclusive Reward for Category Winners

Category Winners in the 2026 competition will receive one month of complimentary access to CPGBuyerAI, valued at $599. This includes:

- 50 verified, human-checked buyer matches

- Full access to the CPGBuyerAI dashboard with Fit Scores and market insights

- Velocity exposure for their top three products

- Dedicated goal setup and data support from BTN’s team

“This is the next evolution of what an award can do for a brand,” Patel added. “Recognition is just the beginning — our goal is to help every winning brand activate that success in the marketplace.”

How It Works

Brands can enter the 2026 Bartender Spirits Awards through the competition website as usual. Once a producer adds six or more products, two new “Activate” buttons will automatically appear in their Entrant Zone — one for CPGBuyerAI Buyer Matches and another for Velocity Exposure.

After activation, BTN’s team will begin processing their data and matching criteria.

- For CPGBuyerAI, verified buyer leads are curated based on the brand’s market goals.

- For Velocity, BTN will collect retail and e-commerce links for the top three products and prepare their Where-to-Buy visibility.

A member of the BTN team will then schedule a short demo call to show entrants how to view their verified buyers and visibility reports inside:

- The CPGBuyerAI platform,

- Their BSA Entrant Zone, and

- The competition website’s Where-to-Buy section.

This hands-on walkthrough ensures each entrant knows exactly where to access and use their trade benefits to grow sales and visibility.

About CPGBuyerAI

CPGBuyerAI is BTN’s AI-powered buyer discovery and market intelligence platform built to help consumer packaged goods companies — including wine, beer, and spirits brands — identify verified trade buyers, unlock new distribution channels, and scale global sales. By combining advanced AI algorithms with human data verification, CPGBuyerAI delivers precise buyer matches, market signals, and outreach intelligence customized to each brand’s growth goals.

CPGBuyerAI is currently in its Beta phase and available exclusively to BTN customers as part of its first-access program. CPGBuyerAI demo is a closed demo and only available to BTN’s competition category winners and its trade show customers at this moment. Moving forward, the Beta phase opens up to BTN competition entrants with 6 or more products.

About Beverage Trade Network

Beverage Trade Network (BTN) is a global media and events company connecting the beverage industry through trade shows, competitions, and technology platforms. With a portfolio that includes the International Bulk Wine & Spirits Show, London Competitions, and USA Trade Tasting, BTN helps brands expand distribution, enhance visibility, and grow internationally through modern data solutions like CPGBuyerAI and Velocity.

About Bartender Spirits Awards

Hosted annually in Chicago, the Bartender Spirits Awards recognize and celebrate spirits brands that excel in the on-trade environment. Judged by America’s leading bartenders, bar managers, and spirits directors, the competition evaluates entries on Taste, Value, and Packaging — ensuring every medal reflects what truly matters to the trade.

The 2026 competition is now open for entries, and entrants can access these new Trade Benefits today in their Entrant Zone.

Register your spirits at www.bartenderspiritsawards.com.

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