quarterly mixer - Breakthru Beverage Group

IN THIS ISSUE:
Page 2 Executive Corner| Page 2 Drink Corner | Page 3 HR Corner | Page 3 Safety Corner
Page 3 Zonin Finds a Cure| Page 3 Learning & Development| Pages 4-9 Success Stories|
Pages 10-12 Around the State
3rd & 4th Quarter 2012
QUARTERLY MIXER
A NOTE FROM BOB
We were very privileged
to have our Chairman and
CEO, Charlie Merinoff, in
town for our 2012 State of
the State Meeting. In the
meeting, Charlie gave a very
important speech discussing
the strategic direction of
Premier Beverage and the
Charmer Sunbelt Group.
This included our industry
outlook, our company history, vision, and strategic growth
plans for the future. He also talked about the value of a
distributor and the importance of the three tier system.
Happy Holidays!
flawless delivery from our warehouse or selling on the
street.” I would like to reiterate this sentiment and express
my gratitude for the value each of you provides to Premier
Beverage. Our continued success can be attributed to the
hard work, dedication, and brand building each of you
executes on a daily basis.
As we wrap up 2012, I would like to wish you and your
families a Happy and Joyous Holiday Season. Thank you for
all of your hard work and I look forward to seeing you in
2013!
“The value of a distributor is defined by their ability to
build brands” said Charlie. “This is where our entire team
comes in. We rely on each and every person working for
Premier to help build our brands, whether it is through
1
EXECUTIVE CORNER
Jenna Ingraham | Director, Public Relations
After graduating from William Jewell
College in Missouri with majors in Organizational Communications and Spanish in
2002, Jenna moved to Florida and worked
in the nonprofit sector with groups such
as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the Humane Society of Broward
County. While working at the Humane
Society, Jenna was tasked with recruiting
sponsors to help raise funds. One company that Jenna pitched for event sponsorship was
none other than Premier Beverage. Soon after, she
was asked to interview and got the position of Public
Relations Specialist. Six years later, Jenna has moved
up the ranks and now holds the position of Director,
Public Relations for the state of Florida.
As Director, Public Relations, Jenna is the spokesperson for Premier Beverage. She is responsible for
facilitating corporate, governmental, and charitable
relationships, internal and external communications
(such as the newsletter and drafting speeches for
our executives), large scale event planning, working
with partners on execution of marketing and PR
plans and associating with key influencers in the
community.
Jenna explains that one of the most important
aspects of her job is managing Premier’s community and charitable investments. “Premier is such a
charitable organization and whether we are making
financial or in-kind contributions, it is up to the PR
team to make sure our company and our brands
receive the best recognition and return on their investment,” she states. “This includes maximizing our
position as a responsible corporate citizen, enhancing goodwill, and maximizing opportunities to the
positive benefit of the company.”
Jenna represents Premier as a Chairman’s Circle
Member at the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, the highest possible member level, serves
on the board of the American Lung Association, and
also works with many other organizations such as
Step Up for Students, the Art of Basketball, and the
Barbara Bush Foundation.
Jenna was recently named one of Gold Coast Magazine’s 40 Under 40 Young Professionals, and over the
summer finished her Professional MBA at the University of Florida, a 2 year working masters.
2
Drink Corner
D’USSÉ™
STYLE
It is naturally aged at least
four and a half years in the
cellars of France’s Chateau
de Cognac, one of the oldest
cognac houses in France.
Distinctively smooth, with
each taste, you savor hints of
spices, almond and cinnamon.
Subtle accents of honey and
dried fruits are the finale.
PAIRING
A versatile Rosé wine that pairs well
with all shellfish and seafood as well as
French and Mediterranean cuisine.
STYLE
VieVité’s fresh, effervescent flavors stimulate the palate with each sip. This deliciously vibrant rosé persistently delights
with a perfectly balanced intensity.
HR CORNER
Step Up for Students Tax Credit Scholarships
Zonin’s Mission to
Help Find a Cure
Zonin USA is fighting to help find a
cure with their newest line extension,
Zonin Prosecco Rosé. $1 from each
bottle sold will be donated back to
cancer research.
According to The American Cancer
Society’s most recent estimates for
breast cancer in the United States,
- About 226,870 new cases of invasive
breast cancer will be diagnosed in
women.
- About 63,300 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be diagnosed
- About 39,510 women will die from
breast cancer
Learning & Development
By: Keith Hathaway
Through a program with the
non-profit Step Up for Students
and the Florida government,
qualifying families can apply for
grants to send their child to the
public or private school that
best meets their child’s needs.
Premier Beverage is a proud
partner of this program and last year funded more than
9,000 K-12 scholarships for Florida’s schoolchildren by
redirecting a portion of our Alcohol Beverage Excise
Taxes. According to Bob Drinon, “Since this is money
we pay to the state anyway, it was a no-brainer to designate a portion of our taxes to assist children around
the state find the best education to fit their needs.”
The average income of the families accepted to receive
scholarship dollars is $26,504 with a household size of
four.
If you or someone you know would like to learn more about the
Step Up for Students program, please contact Latonia Brown
in the HR Department at (954)251-8030/[email protected] or visit www.stepupforstudents.org.
SAFETY CORNER
BY TRACY LINHART
2012 has been an amazing year for our Department. Premier
is committed to deploying the most informed and effective
sales force in the marketplace. We accomplish this through:
•Intensive & ongoing sales skills training, Product
Knowedge education, Sales Technology training, Coaching,
and performance evaluation standards
Some of the training classes that were offered in 2012 were:
•TOPS, WSSM, Apprentice, Journeyman Wine, Journeyman
Spirits, WSET – Pilot program, Building Leaders Coaching
Platform, Technology Classes(ePride-DSS-SAP), Train the
Trade
AL Beck and I couldn’t have made this happen without the
help of our Certified Sales Trainers(CST’s) and Certified Training Coordinators(CTC’s).
In 2013 we will have 49
around the State!
Please remember that all
training classes will be posted
on the Training Bulletin Boards
in each market.
Premier Beverage is a proud supporter of the Community Blood Centers of South Florida, and in 2012 associates donated over 60 pints of blood as well as several
platelets throughout the many blood drives held this
year. We are excited to announce that over the last 18
years, Premier Beverage has donated over 810 pints of
blood!
Tracy Linhart, Director of Safety and Alma Lazarevic,
Safety Department Administration have been leading
the charge to promote the blood
drives at the
Miramar location.
Tracy said “the
blood bank supervisiors are always
ecstatic with Premier’s willingness
to donate. They
always meet and
exceed the goal
for donations.”
3
SUCCESS STORIES
Congratulations to the On- Sale teams at Premier
Beverage! We were named Distributor of the Year for
the William Hill Winery in 2012! Thank you all for your
hard work and dedication to the brand and the Gallo
portfolio, they are outstanding partners and everyone
should be proud of their efforts and contributions for
making this happen! - Nick Doyle
Congratulations to DAVID KOVANIS on his 20 years
of service with Premier Beverage. David started with
Premier in July 1992 as a Sales Representative and is
currently a Field Sales Manager for Pinellas and Pasco
counties. Many thanks for your loyalty and dedication!
Grey Goose Golf display of 60+ cases in ABC store 161
in Naples. Account Representative- STEVE SANTORA of
Premier Beverage Company Field Sales Manager- KEITH
BROWN of Premier Beverage Company
4
At one of Orlando’s key hotel resorts, the ORLANDO
ON-PREMISE TEAM, Dave Jordan and Gabe Urrutia
(Bacardi Portfolio mixology consultant) - presented an
array of upscale cocktail options using premium spirits
from the Bacardi USA portfolio. Hotel management and
staff interacted and provided feedback taking an active
role in developing the drinks which are being added to
multiple hotel outlet drink menus. Supplier supported
initiatives and resources continue to help strengthen
our partnerships in key accounts throughout central
Florida by adding value and creativity to our customers
- resulting in additional business and new opportunities! Year to date the Hilton Orlando is up 19% in dollar
volume. Congratulations!
SUCCESS STORIES
Winn Dixie #5 in Jacksonville was recently home to a
50 case Louis Martini display! Congratulations to Sales
Representative STEVEN STEELE and Field Sales Manager BRIAN TETREAULT on selling this display in!
BOB and BAILEY DRINON help feed the homeless on
Thanksgiving morning at Broward Partnership for the
Homeless in Fort Lauderdale!
The Tampa Retail Team did a great job with this massive
25 case Tomasello display in Publix 1305. Congratulations to Sales Representative BRANDEN BIDDLE, Field
Sales Manager KLARK KELLY, and Area Manager TOM
WING for selling the customer on the concept of not
only the display but also its prime location during the
Thanksgiving holiday.
With outstanding supplier tasting support, the team
sold 15 cases in just 2 days! Cranberry was the best seller due to the perfect pairing with turkey. The customer
was elated with this opportunity to excite his shoppers
about a quality item and drive sales.
5
SUCCESS STORIES
Congratulations to Sales Representative DAN AHLERS
and Field Sales Manager JILL PARHAM on selling in this
10 case LaMarca display in the lobby of Publix 850 in Ft.
Lauderdale, FL!
In one month’s time Sales Representative ANDREW
OBERMANN and Field Sales Manager T.J. STACHER
sold in a five hundred case display of Barefoot, a 15 case
display of Delicia, a 30 case display of Mirassou, and a 15
case display of Apothic to Wal-Mart 3625 in Lauderdale
Lakes, FL. Great Job!
6
Mission Accomplished! On September 20, 2012, the
famed Fort Lauderdale restaurant, Café Martorano,
opened it’s doors to Premier Beverage after decades of
competitor exclusivity. Great job to Sales Representative
JIM KNOLL, FSM JUSTIN PERRONE and Area Manager
DENNIS MCGUIRE. This success serves as a true testament and reminder to never assume that the competition will always have the business in an account. Keep
knocking, keep presenting, and good things will happen. Persistence and professionalism eventually pay off!
Alamo Liquors in Tampa, FL was home to a 50 case
Brown Forman Christmas Display! Great Job by Sales
representative RYAN DAVIS and Field Sales Manager
DAVE MUFFS
SUCCESS STORIES
Congratulations to Sales Representative ANGELA
RODRIGUEZ and Field Sales Manager DAN ROSS on
building this 15 case House Wine Display in the lobby at
Publix 223 in Miami!
The Proximo and Premier Beverage teams celebrate a
Dobel Tequila feature month and the opening of Rocco’s
Tacos in Orlando, FL!
Sales Representative KEITH MODELSKI gained this
front end cap in Publix 756 in Jupiter, FL for the Zonin
BOGO “buy one get one”. The store manager thought
it may have been too much wine but to his surprise he
had to reload!
7
SUCCESS STORIES
Total Wine 920 in Orlando, FL is the talk of the town with
its Jack Daniel’s 10-barrel merchandising display.
The impressive display was created by Merchandising
Manager, RICHARD NICOL, of Premier Beverage and
features a working Jack Daniel’s train set, 150 cases of
Jack Daniel’s product, LED tree and icicle lights. Great
Job!
CEO of Norman’s in St. Pete Beach, NEENA JAGANNATH, was happy to show off this 20 case Kraken Display featuring the Kraken surfboard! Great job by Sales
Representative MIKE GATELY, FSM DAVID KOVANIS,
and Area Merchandishing Manager KEVIN O’MALLEY
on selling in this display!
8
JUSTIN WAHL, MARK HOAG, and KASSANDRA
HEILMAN hosted a happy hour for Lori Neal, Paul Emery
and all the managers at Wall Street in downtown Orlando to celebrate the kick off of replacing a competitors
flavor line with Three Olives. Great Job!
SUCCESS STORIES
To celebrate their
150th anniversary, Bacardi recently threw a
Repeal Party, hosted at
the Don Vicente hotel
in Ybor City, Tampa.
At the Renaissance of Italian Flavor in
Tampa, lucky guests were treated to a
food pairing featuring Fratelli Branca
dishes. The five-course meal hosted at
Ciro’s Speakeasy in Tampa, FL included seared duck breast in a Borghetti
Espresso liquor reduction.
9
AROUND THE STATE
MIRAM AR: Delray Bash
MIRAMAR: TGIC Warehouse Tasting
Tampa | Orlando |Miramar | Jacksonville | Pensacola
TAM PA: Clearwater
Beach Restaurant Week
PENSACOLA: Martini Fest
TAMPA: Step up for Students with Governor Scott
OR LAN DO: Tasting with
Master Distiller Jeff Arnett
10
Tampa | Orlando |Miramar | Jacksonville | Pensacola
AROUND THE STATE
TAM PA: Robert Kacher Wine Dinner
inar
TAM PA: Whiskies of the World Sem
MIRAM AR: Jeb Bush Beach Bash
MIRAMAR: D’Usse Launch at
the Fontainebleau with Jay Z
b Bush Gala
M IR A M A R: Je
JACKS ONVIL LE: Jaguars game
with Wild Wings Cafe group
11
AROUND THE STATE
Tampa | Orlando |Miramar | Jacksonville | Pensacola
PENSACOLA:
Wine & 9
MIR AM AR: Miami Dolphins Cycling
MIRAM AR: Art of Basketball
Challenge
MIRAMAR:
Key West Trade Show
TAMPA: Retail Beverage
Council Convention
12
MIRAM AR: Gino Toretta Luncheon