NJLSA by Paul Santelle NJ LIQUOR STORES

njLSA
by Paul Santelle NJ LIQUOR STORES ALLIANCE, INC.
You and Every Retailer You Know
Should Be There
NJLSA
INDUSTRY ALERT
EMERGENCY
RETAILER MEETING
Axe Taxes Not Business and
Two-License Grocery Battle
Thursday - April 30th - 7pm
Crowne Plaza Hotel – Terrace Room
2349 West Marlton Pike
(Rte.70) – Cherry Hill
This meeting will include speakers
from the NJLSA, AARA, NJLBA and
the NJRA as well as other key industry
insiders. We all need to band together
on these major issues. Not since the
devastating 1990 and 1992 back–to–
back excise tax increases and the deregulation of the State’s alcohol industry in 1980 have such serious threats
to our industry been considered by our
State’s lawmakers.
The State’s entire alcohol industry
is working together to make sure that
the Assembly and Senate do not forget who the home team is and what is
at stake. Clearly, the Governor is not
taking into full consideration that his
tax plans will yield a crushing blow
to State–based employers as well as a
diminishing “excise tax” return that
will be compounded by a substantial
decrease in sales tax receipts from
border business that has historically
benefited our State. There is little
doubt that some key members of the
New Jersey Food Council have thrown
the State’s liquor stores in front of the
“chain-train” by using their out-ofstate resources to create a perception
that they are representing the public’s
interest by challenging the two-license
limitation law.
Hopefully, sound judgment will
prevail in the Assembly and Senate as
well as with Governor Corzine, who
should all be protecting the State’s social welfare and economic interest by
preserving the status quo.
T
he NJLSA and industry affiliates are
heading to the southern end of the
State to give our South Jersey counterparts the opportunity to get directly involved
with our efforts to protect and defend our
State’s alcohol industry. Last October we held
an emergency meeting in New Brunswick that
was very successful in engaging several hundred retailers along with a large contingency
of supplier and industry affiliates from all over
the State. Please refer to our website at www.
NJLSA.com for more specific details relating
to this Emergency Meeting.
We have been involved with countless
meetings in Trenton and all over the state over
the course of the last month and it’s now official that it is open season on our industry. If
you were dreaming about a piece of the Federal
bail-out, forget about it and go back to sleep. If
you were looking for some stimulus, the next
time you wake up have an extra cup of joe.
We are “all” on our own and the way things
are looking we all better step it up a notch or
two or we’ll end up boarded up like all the local businesses that were shuttered during past
economic downturns.
Clearly, Trenton has totally distorted and
misperceived what has been happening in our
State for the last seven or eight and maybe even
nine years. But now ignorance has merged with
arrogance and denial has led to incompetence.
The State budget has been handled like the unsinkable Titanic that was sunk by the tip of an
iceberg that was in actuality an enormous mass
concealed under the surface of the water. Unlike the Titanic that went down fast, the hull
of our State house has been taking on water for
years, but has managed to keep afloat because
the bilge pumps have been working overtime in
the taxation departments. Well those pumps
have finally succumbed and its time to give orders to abandon ship.
We need to communicate to anyone and everyone that is connected to the decision-making
process that we do not want our industry to go
down like a sinking ship. Our industry is almost
totally comprised of small state-based businesses, who are employers that pay a multitude of
taxes at one of the highest per capita ratios in
our country. We pay just about every possible
kind of tax that you could imagine and clearly
52 New Jersey Beverage Journal May 2009
we have already past the point of what is now a
diminishing return.
Finally, the NJLSA would like to acknowledge at this time that the Asian-American Retailer Association (AARA) has become a full
Alliance Member of the NJLSA and now has
a seat on our Board of Trustees as well as a voting privilege with our Board of Directors. I also
would like to acknowledge AARA president
Jesal Amin as well as AARA vice presidents
Nikul Patel and Jay Amin, along with the many
other AARA members with whom I have had
the honor and privilege of attending many political meetings and industry sponsored events.
The dedication of the AARA to our industry
has been instrumental in helping the NJLSA as
well as the entire alcohol industry of our state.
The trustees and board of directors of the NJLSA look forward to a long and mutually supportive relationship.
Make The Effort To Get
Connected To Your Industry
There are several other legislative bills floating
that relate to internet shipping, keg registration,
recycling bottle deposit, off-premise in-store
samplings for beer & spirits as well as interlock
devices for the first DWI offense. We all need
to be prepared. Go to our website to get more
information on how you can help us, help you,
by sending in your dues along with your political
‘6-Pac’ donations. If there was ever a time to get
involved – the time is now. Help us, help you;
join the NJLSA and ABL.
Fred Leighton
President
908-353-6300
Paul Santelle
Vice President
732-442-9536
Bill Hendrickson
Secretary
Juan Negrin
Treasurer
Kenneth Friedman
Director
Joseph De Sanctis
Executive Director
609-396-1980
NEW JERSEY LIQUOR
STORES Alliance
Affiliated with American
Beverage Licensees (ABL)
Bruce Hamilton
Director
New members can send their $220.00 membership dues
to: NJLSA – Membership Dues c/o Public Impact
Strategies, 414 River View Plaza, Trenton, NJ 08611
NJ RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION by Deborah Dowdell
njra
Petition Opposing NJ Alcohol/Wine Tax Increase
Have your employees and customers fill out this petition opposing Governor Corzine’s proposed 25% increase in the excise tax on wine
and distilled spirits. A tax increase will not solve our state’s economic problems and this tax is a direct target at the hospitality industry
and our customers. Higher taxes will force us to pass the tax increase along to our customers, and now is NOT the time to be taking
more money out of our customers’ pockets. Say no to higher taxes on wine and distilled spirits!
Name
Residence
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This petition was completed by:
Bar/Restaurant Name:__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Owner/Operator:______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Telephone Contact:____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mail or fax completed petition to: NJ Restaurant Association 126 West State Street Trenton, NJ 08608 fax: 609.599.3340
Questions? Call Deborah at 800.848.6368. Thank you.
May 2009 new jersey beverage journal 53
around town
Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum
Celebrates 10 Million Bottles
On March 26th, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum had its 10
millionth bottle come off the production line. Managers and employees of the brand were on hand to
toast the custom made bottle as it rolled off the bottling production line in Raritan Center.
Rachel Fruman (R), the Sailor Jerry brand ambassador, holds the ten millionth bottle as it comes off the
production line.
Gateway/Perrone holds
Annual Sales Award Dinner
Gateway/Perrone recently held their 22nd annual
sales award dinner at Solar Di Minho in Roselle
Park. Held on February 28th, the event honored employees for their outstanding achievements.
Winners (L-R) Neil Barnett, president Fedway; Elizabeth Colangelo, Gateway/Perrone field manager; Joe
Bartell, Milestone Award; Kevin Krapels, general sales manager, Fedway; Christopher DeRobertis, 1st
Runner up & Milestone Award Winner; Thomas Merola, Gateway/Perrone general sales manager;
Rick Mazza, Salesman of the Year & Milestone Award Winner; Peter Chakounis, Gateway/Perrone field
manager; Jose Scaffo, Milestone Award; Aaron Exelbirt, rookie of the year; Jeff Saltos, Gateway/Perrone
field manager; Gary Bittiger, former Gateway/Perrone general sales manager. (R) Rick Mazza and
Neil Barnett.
american bd kicks off Zin 91
The kick-off for Zin 91 took place on March 6th
in Glen Rock. Hubert Opici was in attendance to
address the New York and New Jersey salesforce
personally. Zin 91 was created to celebrate Hubert
Opici’s 91st birthday and to honor his legacy in developing the Zinfandel grape variety. The launch
of the new wine also coincides with the group’s
75th anniversary.
(L) Don Opici presenting Zin 91. (R) Hubert Opici addressing New York and New Jersey salesforce.
Dan Aykroyd Bottle Signings at
bayway and bottle king
Renowned movie star and celebrity Dan Aykroyd
made several New Jersey appearances, when he
brought his new Crystal Head Vodka to Bayway
World of Liquor in Elizabeth and Bottle King in
Morris Plains. Customers were able to meet Aykroyd and have him sign bottles of his new vodka.
Similar signings will be taking place at other locations throughout New Jersey.
(L) Dan Aykroyd and Angel Wolters from New Jersey Beverage Journal at Bayway World of Liquor.
(R) Dan Aykroyd signing a bottle at Morris Plains Bottle King.