Velus / Projects

Operations leadership for beverage brands at inflection points

Fractional COO-grade operations for CPG beverage companies doing $1-50M. We embed in your team and own the operational complexity between your brand vision and the physical product reaching shelves.

Contract Manufacturing

Copacker sourcing, vetting, contract negotiation, and ongoing relationship management. Transitions, exits, and crisis recoveries.

Supply Chain

Ingredient and packaging procurement, vendor diversification, lead-time management, and BOM cost optimization.

Production Planning

Run scheduling, forecast-to-production handoffs, co-manufacturing coordination, and seasonal capacity planning.

Logistics

3PL and warehouse coordination, freight management, DTC and wholesale distribution infrastructure.

Regulatory and Compliance

Coordination with alcohol licensing, TTB label approvals, premise transfers, and specialty tax classification. Management of certifications including NSF and category-specific standards.

Distributor Strategy

Operational interface with distributors, market entry planning, retail activation support, and ongoing relationship management across channels.

M&A Readiness

Operational data-room preparation, COGS documentation, margin analysis, and vendor contract cleanup. We have supported brands through both investment rounds and acquisition by strategic partners.

Crisis Triage

Recall management, root cause analysis, conflict resolution, regulatory unwinds, and rapid operational recovery when things go sideways.

Embedded

We operate inside your email, your calls, your vendor relationships. Not an outside advisor producing reports - the person accountable for operational outcomes.

Operators, not advisors

We handle vendor management, contract negotiations, and production calls directly. You get someone doing the work, not telling you what the work should be.

Network-connected

Deep relationships across copackers, distributors, warehouse partners, freight providers, legal counsel, and capital advisors in the beverage space. Access is included.

Beverage brands that have outgrown founder-led operations but aren't ready for a full-time COO. Typically at a commercialization inflection point - scaling production, launching into new retail channels, switching copackers, preparing for a raise or acquisition, or recovering from an operational breakdown.

RTD Cocktails Energy Drinks Wine Non-Alcoholic Spirits Non-Alcoholic Wine Functional Beverages
Alex Butti
alex@velusprojects.com
Marin County, California