Heineken USA recently recognized two of its distributor partners with awards.
The press releases are below:
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — HEINEKEN USA announced that Gate City Beverage of San Bernadino, CA received the organization’s Red Star Award for its efforts in driving the success of the HEINEKEN USA portfolio at the company’s annual National Distributor Conference in Phoenix, AZ last week.
Gate City was honored for its execution that crossed portfolio lines and results that exceeded industry standards. In a year where the industry improved slightly, the Red Star Award winner grew the HEINEKEN USA business 8.6 percent in 2012, with significant performance across the portfolio. Dutch portfolio brands, including Heineken and Heineken Light, were up 3.2 percent, while Mexican brands, including Dos Equis and Tecate, were up 11.8 percent.
Gate City Beverage Distributors display conversion was one of the highest results in the country and greater than competitive brands in the market, with more than 6 percent growth on both Heineken and Dos Equis. They also led their zone with over 2,000 points of innovation distribution in small format. In line with HEINEKEN USA’s on-premise strategy, Gate City grew distribution by 40% and exceeded top bottle distribution goals Heineken, Dos Equis, and Luxury Light.
“The Red Star Award is our highest honor, celebrating our distributor partners who execute flawlessly to deliver results,” said Scott Blazek, Senior Vice President, Sales, HEINEKEN USA. “With their relentless focus on constant improvement, Gate City Beverage in San Bernadino exceeded expectations, and we’re fortunate to have a team strategically aligned to our vision.”
“It’s a tremendous honor to receive this award from our great partners at HEINEKEN USA. They not only provide us with an exceptional portfolio of products but they back it up with insightful consumer research, impactful marketing and great people who support us in our market,” said Mark Smith, Gate City Beverage Distributors, General Manager.
“We are very proud of Mark Smith and the entire Gate City Beverage team. Heineken USA’s recognition of their leadership and execution with the coveted Red Star Award reinforces an even greater spirit of competition amongst Reyes Beverage Group to continue to deliver at the highest levels for HUSA in 2013,” said Tom Reyes, President of Reyes Beverage Group’s Gate City Distributing.
In addition to the Red Star Award, HEINEKEN USA recognized the performance of distributors across its portfolio with Star Performer Awards for their efforts in accelerating volume growth and distribution of the company’s Mexican, Dutch and English brands. The honorees were evaluated for their performance against distributors of a similar size.
The Star Performer Award winners for the Dutch Portfolio (Heineken, Heineken Light and Amstel Light) included Horizon Beverage Company, Wilson-McGinley and Sound Beverage Distributors, and for the Mexican Portfolio (Dos Equis, Tecate, Sol, Bohemia and Carta Blanca), Andrews Distributing Company of North Texas, Keg 1 Permian Basin and Gulf Distributing of Mobile. Newcastle Brown Ale winners included Gate City Distributing (LA), Columbia Distributing (Kent) and Columbia Distributing (Everett).
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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — HEINEKEN USA named DBI Beverage Inc. Sacramento as winner of its sixth annual 1864 Award for Responsibility during its National Distributors Conference in Phoenix, Ariz. on Feb. 7.
The Award honors distributors for proactive efforts in promoting moderation and responsibility, cornerstones at HEINEKEN since the company was founded in 1864. DBI Beverage Inc. Sacramento has proven it believes responsible consumption is part of everyday business with initiatives among its employees, customers and community. HEINEKEN USA also honored Andrews Distributing of Northern Texas and Harbor Distributing, L.L.C. of Southern California as finalists.
“HEINEKEN USA is thrilled to annually recognize outstanding commitment to advancing responsible consumption programming through the 1864 Award,” said Stacey Tank, Senior Vice President and Chief Corporate Relations Officer, HEINEKEN USA. “We are proud to work with this year’s 1864 Award winner DBI Beverage Inc. Sacramento, and our finalists: Andrews Distributing and Harbor Distributing. These partners are integral to our business and exemplify our shared commitment to responsibility through meaningful programs in their communities.”
“We are very proud to have won HEINEKEN USA’s 1864 Award,” said John Janosko, Vice President and General Manager, DBI Beverage Inc. Sacramento. “We all live, work, and enjoy the communities in which our families are a part of. Making sure our consumers, customers, and associates are knowledgeable of and engaged in being responsible with their choice of alcohol beverage is something DBI Beverage Sacramento takes very seriously.”
Distributors were asked to submit their best efforts in promoting responsible consumption, many of which incorporate HEINEKEN USA programs such as Taxi Magic, a free mobile app sponsored by HEINEKEN USA that connects consumers to a local taxi from anywhere in the U.S. and Health Alliance on Alcohol (HAA), a series of alcohol awareness educational materials.
DISTRIBUTOR RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM DETAILS
DBI BEVERAGE INC. SACRAMENTO (SACRAMENTO, CALIF.) —DBI Beverage Inc. Sacramento reinforces responsibility among associates with a strong code of conduct and a “10-second rule” which states a responsible consumption message must be visible within the first 10 seconds of entering any of their customers’ business accounts. DBI embedded Taxi Magic reminders on 21 HEINEKEN USA—branded trucks as well as custom point-of-sale items, holiday flyers, company newsletters, all company associates’ email signatures, and its company website. In partnership with HEINEKEN USA, the distributor advocates for responsible consumption in their community by bringing the HEINEKEN USA Designated Driver program to local events such as The Annual Exotic Ball and River Cats regular season.
ANDREWS DISTRIBUTING (DALLAS, TEXAS) — Andrews Distributing is committed to the responsible consumption of alcohol beverages and was selected as a finalist for its recent work promoting responsible consumption at the Dallas Ball, one of the city’s largest social events. It paid for more than 500 $15 Taxi Magic vouchers handed out during the event by HEINEKEN ambassadors and members of the Dallas Police Department which provided numerous attendees a safe alternative way to get home.
HARBOR DISTRIBUTING, L.L.C. (ANAHEIM, CALIF.) – Harbor Distributing and its parent, Reyes Holdings, L.L.C., have long been leaders in promoting a responsible consumption culture. Harbor and HEINEKEN USA were the recognized sponsors of the “National Night Out Crime Prevention and Safety Fair” in Newport Beach, Calif., and the distributor provided HAA booklets in both English and Spanish. Thanks to its partnership with local law enforcement, Harbor ensured that HAA booklets are available at public meetings, in the suite of resources used by the Anaheim Police Department Community Relations Division and in the Anaheim Police Department’s lobby.
The 1864 Award is one of many initiatives under HEINEKEN’s “Brewing a Better Future” agenda, the company’s roadmap to becoming the world’s greenest brewer. The agenda consists of three strategic imperatives: continuously improve the environmental impact of our brands and business; empower our people and the communities in which we operate; and positively impact the role of beer in society.
About HEINEKEN USA
HEINEKEN USA Inc., the nation’s leading upscale beer importer, is a subsidiary of Heineken International BV, the world’s most international brewer. European brands imported into the U.S. include Heineken Lager, the world’s most international beer brand, Heineken Light, Amstel Light, Newcastle Brown Ale, and Strongbow cider. HEINEKEN USA also imports the Dos Equis Franchise, Tecate Franchise, Sol, Indio, Carta Blanca and Bohemia brands from Mexico.