ABL Honors 16 Beverage Retailers at Annual Meeting
Brown-Forman Retailers of the Year Recognized for Their Continued Commitment to the Beverage Alcohol Industry
March 23, 2018 – Bethesda, MD – As part of ABL’s 16th Annual Meeting at Harrah’s New Orleans Hotel & Casino in New Orleans, Louisiana, sixteen beverage retailers from across the United States were recognized as Brown-Forman Retailers of the Year in a ceremony at the ABL Honors Gala on March 12. Recipients were nominated by their state beverage associations for their success and dedication to the beverage alcohol industry.
“The Brown-Forman Retailer of the Year Awards provide us with an opportunity to recognize and honor our members – those individuals who serve as the face of the beverage alcohol industry to the consumer,” said ABL Executive Director John Bodnovich. “When selecting these members for their awards, there are numerous aspects of small business ownership that are taken into account; among these are: excellence in advocacy, responsible sales and service practices, community engagement, and their support of their state affiliate.”
Dating back more than two decades, the Brown-Forman Retailer of the Year awards celebrate and recognize independent retail beverage business owners who engage in responsible sales and service of beverage alcohol, and who are committed to their state beverage associations. ABL congratulates all of the honored businesses and licensees for their outstanding and continued contributions to the industry and their communities.
“Thanks to the continued support of Brown-Forman and their sponsorship of the Retailer of the Year awards, ABL is able to honor the top on- and off-premise beverage retailers from the more than 12,000 retailers that ABL represents nationwide,” Bodnovich added.
Brown-Forman, one of the world’s leading distilled spirits producers, has remained a steadfast sponsor of the awards, recognizing the importance of vibrant independent alcohol retailers, and continuing their support of those who are the last to handle beverage products before they reach the hands of consumers. In attendance to present awards to this year’s recipients was Teddy Graziano, Brown-Forman’s Louisiana State Manager, who thanked each of the recipients for their hard work and efforts to positively define the industry.
The 2018 Brown-Forman Retailers of the Year Include:
| The Manas Family Cottage Hill Package Mobile, AL
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Jennifer Ritter The Candy Store Mobile, AL |
Jeff Kreston Kreston Wine & Spirits Wilmington, DE |
| Pat Daniel Uptown Wine & Spirits Columbus, GA
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Randy Rehmer Randy’s Double R Bar Waterloo, IL |
Charlie Hopf Holiday Liquors Jasper, IN
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| Brian Edwards Cellar Door Wine & Spirits Murray, KY
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Chuck Ferrar Bay Ridge Wine & Spirits Annapolis, MD |
Jack Milani Monaghan’s Pub Baltimore, MD |
| Ryan Maloney Julio’s Liquors Westborough, MA
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James Johnson Bull N’ Bear Saloon & Casino Red Lodge, MT |
Donato D’Onofrio Spirits Unlimited Toms River, NJ
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| Joseph J. Pecoraro Irondequoit Liquor Rochester, NY |
Charles Leard M & R Package Store Amarillo, TX
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| Dennis Salverson Salvo’s Coyote Grill Whitewater, WI |
Island Richards Kelly’s Convenience Centers Rock Springs, WY
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About American Beverage Licensees: ABL is the preeminent national trade association for beverage alcohol retailers. Direct retail beverage alcohol sales in the United States generate as many as 1.94 million well-paying jobs. ABL’s thousands of on-premise and off-premise licensee members are independent and often family-owned establishments. The beverage retailing industry pays over $25.3 billion in federal taxes and $18.36 billion in state and local taxes. To learn more about ABL, visit www.ablusa.org. ABL reminds you to Drink Responsibly – Drive Responsibly.
About Brown-Forman: For more than 145 years, Brown-Forman Corporation has enriched the experience of life by responsibly building fine quality beverage alcohol brands, including Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s & Cola, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Gentleman Jack, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel, Finlandia, Korbel, el Jimador, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, Canadian Mist, Herradura, New Mix, Sonoma-Cutrer, Early Times, Chambord, BenRiach, The GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh. Brown-Forman’s brands are supported by nearly 4,600 employees and sold in approximately 160 countries worldwide. For more information about the company, please visit www.brown-forman.com. Brown-Forman reminds you to please drink responsibly.
Source: ABL