Premiere iMi Drinks Summit Was a Success
It was business by the beach recently in Negril,
Jamaica, for the Drinks Summit 2006, created and led by Atlanta-based
Incentive Marketing Inc. (iMi). A first-of-its-kind gathering of
representatives of the on-premise three-tier system, the Summit was
formed to bring the collective wisdom and know-how of top national
account operators, distributors and suppliers to one place in order to
foster a sharing of ideas, solutions and inspiration.
Three days of relaxed discussions between industry
professionals about current consumer trends, legal developments,
training solutions, marketing programs and mixology allowed
participants to take home progressive ideas and projects that will help
this industry become more profitable.
More than 180 participants attended the first annual
Summit held at Grand Lido Resort in Negril, and they enjoyed a
business-casual setting that included educational sessions, a trade
fair, special tastings and Jamaica-themed nightly events that allowed
networking at its best.
“It’s always a bit of a gamble when you decide to do
something different and challenge the marketplace,” said Don Billings,
president and CEO of Incentive Marketing Inc. “We hoped we had covered
all our bases, crossed our ‘t’s’ and dotted our ‘i’s’ ... and then you
wait and see what happens. A great comradeship and discourse of ideas
and networking took place, which was what our original idea and
objective had been.”
 C. Robert “Bob” MacNevin, division vice president,
U.S. national accounts and global military for Pernod Ricard USA,
attended the Summit and said his favorite aspect of the events was the
ability to bring key decision makers from the three tiers into a room
to discuss various issues and opportunities. He also expressed that
“the physical time that we were able to spend with our key customers
and distributor partners” and “being able to clear the air on many of
the misconceptions centered on what the distilled spirit industry is
doing to be proactive in our responsibility efforts” were primary
benefits to attending the Drinks Summit.
Oxford Publishing Inc., producer of Nightclub
& Bar magazine, also was a part of the days’ events and also
conducted an educational seminar there, the Industry Innovation Panel.
“We are honored to have been part of such a
progressive series of events,” said Oxford Publishing C.O.O. Jennifer
Robinson, who hosted the panel. “When such great minds can come
together in one place to represent the many levels and facets of the
hospitality industry, progress and increases in success are
inevitable.”
Ken Kribel, vice president, director — national
accounts, Southern Wine and Spirits, agreed, adding that the format of
this premiere Summit was especially conducive to future growth.
“The iMi Drinks Summit gave everyone a chance to
spent time together in a relaxing environment,” Kribel said. “It has
the potential to become one of the most productive conferences in the
industry.”
Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans is Near
New Orleans once again will be home to Tales of the
Cocktail, a dining and drinking experience that explores the history
and spirit of the cocktail, on July 19-23, 2006, at various locations
in the New Orleans French Quarter.
The fourth annual event features seminars, book
signings, cooking and cocktail mixing demos, dinner pairings and
cocktail parties — all presented by the country’s hottest chefs,
authors, bartenders and cocktail experts — and is expected to draw
thousands of attendees for this year’s events.
The event’s annual components are Spirited Dinners,
featuring dinner pairings at New Orleans’ oldest and most famous
restaurants; a series of Seminars and Discussions on bartending,
cocktail history and other industry trends; Cocktail Hour, featuring
book signings, cooking and cocktail mixing demos; Dine and Design, a
luncheon with presentations on entertaining at home; walking tours of
the legendary French Quarter; classic and contemporary cocktail parties
and more.
TIDBITS
Governor Edward G. Rendell and five Pennsylvania
business journals recently announced the winners of the 11th Annual
Pennsylvania’s Best 50 Women in Business award. Included on the list of
award recipients is North Hills Business Owner Terri Sokoloff, of
Specialty Group, located in Pittsburgh.
The Central Penn Business Journal, along with the
Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
and four other business journals, recently honor these 50 female
business leaders from across Pennsylvania during Pennsylvania’s Best 50
Women In Business awards. An independent panel of judges selected the
top 50 candidates based on dedication to business growth, professional
and personal accomplishments, community involvement, and advocacy for
women in business.
Specialty Group provides financing,
insurance, business and real estate brokerage, liquor licenses and
preparation and filing of all liquor board documentation exclusively
for bars and restaurants. Specialty Group is in its 20th year of
business.
•
Glazer’s Wholesale Drug Company Inc., one of the nation’s largest
alcohol distributors, is in talks that could lead to a merger or
acquisition, according to a recent statement.
The Addison, Texas-based company, which had $2.8 billion in 2005
revenue, confirmed that it’s in “potential transaction discussions with
various players” but declined to give specifics.
“There are all kinds of options out there, including everything under
the sun,” said Louis Zweig, the company’s vice president for corporate
strategy. Zweig also classified all of the talks as part of an ongoing
consolidation in the spirits distribution industry.
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Bacardi USA
has named John Esposito, former president and CEO of Moët Hennessy USA,
as its new president and CEO. Esposito has replaced the esteemed former
president and CEO, Eduardo Sardiña, who is retiring after 33 years with
Bacardi.
Under Sardiña’s leadership, Bacardi USA experienced
some of its strongest growth and most progressive brand acquisitions,
including Grey Goose and Bombay Sapphire.
Esposito’s extensive experience at Moët Hennessy USA, including sales
and marketing of a portfolio including Moët & Chandon Champagne,
Dom Perignon Champagne, Hennessy Cognac, Grand Marnier and Belvedere
Vodka, has poised him well for his new position with spirits giant
Bacardi USA.
“Bacardi is a company of premium products, and John
Esposito understands how to manage premium brands,” said Andreas
Gembler, president and CEO of the Bermuda-based Bacardi USA parent
company, Bacardi Ltd. “He is the kind of engaging, thoughtful and
inspiring executive to take Bacardi USA and the North American region
to a new level of excellence.”
Look for continued coverage of this transition in future issues of Nightclub & Bar.
•••
Castle Brands Inc., international spirits supplier
headquartered in New York, has announced the appointment of John Soden
as international managing director and Seth B. Weinberg as senior vice
president and general counsel.
As international managing director, Soden will be
responsible for the creation and implementation of the company’s
international expansion strategies as well as the company’s
international sales and marketing activities. He will have full
international P&L responsibility and will work closely with key
corporate officers to ensure that plans and financial objectives are
properly set and achieved.
In a newly created position, Seth Weinberg will be
responsible for securities, finance and corporate governance issues and
SEC reporting, mergers and acquisitions transactions and international
regulatory requirements and contracts including supply, distribution
and marketing agreements.
Soden and Weinberg will report to both Keith
Bellinger, president and chief operating officer, and Mark Andrews,
chairman and CEO.
•••
Beam Global Spirits & Wine Inc. announces the
appointment of John Muller to senior VP, strategy and corporate
development. Reporting directly to President and CEO Tom Flocco, Muller
joins Beam Global Spirits & Wine as a member of its executive
committee. Muller will be responsible for driving strategic
initiatives, as well as identifying and pursuing business development
opportunities. Muller will address such issues as forecasting, trend
analysis, market and competitor analysis, financial modeling and
partnership development.
“We are delighted to welcome John Muller to our
team,” said President and CEO Tom Flocco. “He will be a valuable
addition to the team and to the entire Beam Global Spirits & Wine
organization.”
DEALS
El Jimador, the No. 1 tequila in Mexico and part of the Casa Herradura
brands, has signed a sponsorship deal to have rotating billboards and
displays inside Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Calif., at select Angels
Baseball games during the 2006 season. El Jimador will also be sold at
certain beverage stations throughout the Stadium. The partnership,
which began in conjunction with the start of the 2006 Major League
Baseball season, gives El Jimador exposure to an estimated 3.4 million
people and aligns the brand with America’s favorite pastime.
•••
Pernod Ricard S.A. and FKP Soyuzplodoimport, a federal state company
representing the Russian Federation, announced today that they have
entered into discussions aimed at finding a common agreement regarding
the future development of a number of selected Russian spiritsbrands,
including the Stolichnaya vodka brand.
These discussions are planned to result in establishing a strategic
partnership encompassing the production and distribution of some of
these brands, and particularly of Stolichnaya. The discussions also
could resolve the disputes, now pending in several countries,
concerning the Stolichnaya brand.
The discussions are ongoing and, while no assurances can be provided
that an agreement can be reached, it is the firm intention of both
companies to finalize these talks in a swift manner.
To assist in the discussions, FKP Soyuzplodoimport has retained
Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein as financial advisor and Pernod Ricard
S.A. has retained Morgan Stanley.
In connection with these discussions, the parties have signed a
confidentiality agreement. No further announcement will be forthcoming
until the conclusion of the negotiations.
•••
Newly renamed Wild Goose Brewery will tap into the heritage created by
Maryland’s largest brewing company. The sale of Fredrick Brewery to the
Flying Dog Ownership Group of Denver will insure that this local symbol
of brewing excellence will remain in Fredrick, Md., for years to come.
The newly formed entity will operate under the name Wild Goose Brewery
LLC and will share ownership with Flying Dog.
Opened in 1994 as the Frederick Brewing Company, the brewery has the
capacity to brew 120,000 barrels each year, but could be expanded to
300,000-plus barrels. The brewery will continue to brew some of
Maryland’s favorite craft beer brands such as Wild Goose and Blue
Ridge, but it also will brew Flying Dog’s beer under a special license
arrangement.
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