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2010 Golden Bar Awards
Diageo Honors America's Leading Spirits, Wine and Beer Distributors at Seventh Annual Golden Bar Awards in New York
Contact:
Joshua Friesen, Diageo
Ph: 203-229-7060
Rachel Rosenblatt, FD
Ph: 212-850-5697
New York, NY - (July 21, 2010) - Diageo, the world's leading premium spirits, wine and beer company, honored spirits, wine and beer distributors at the Seventh Annual Golden Bar Awards at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City Monday night.
The Golden Bar Awards, the beverage alcohol industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards, celebrates distributors and brokers from across the United States for their excellence in the marketplace and the important role they play in their communities.
Ivan Menezes, President and CEO of Diageo North America commended Diageo's distributors for their hard work and contributions to a very successful year in the industry, despite a difficult environment, remarking, "Tonight, we honor and applaud the achievements of the best of the best among us. What makes our winners truly spectacular is that they show all of us what we can do when we are at our best - even under challenging conditions."
Larry Schwartz, Diageo USA President, also commented on the importance of execution in the current market. Looking at the past year, we have all navigated through the economic challenges together, as a team, and emerged stronger. Tonight is a night to celebrate our combined strengths and absolute resolve, and to reiterate our commitment to this wonderful business.
The Golden Bar Awards recognize the efforts of distributors and brokers that represent Diageo's spirits, beer and wine brands including Smirnoff, Captain Morgan, Guinness and Beaulieau Vineyard. Awards are also given for Innovation Launches, Control States, Three-Year Consistency, and Distributor of the Year. A special Platinum Bar Award was given for Advancing Responsible Drinking in the spirits, beer and wine categories.
In total 34 statuettes, 32 made with 24 carat gold, and two made with platinum, were awarded to distributors. Each Golden Bar statuette weighs eight pounds, stands more than a foot tall, and is produced by R.S. Owens, the company that created the Oscar(R), presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Below are the categories and winners for the 2010 Golden Bar Awards:
DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR
Distributor of the Year - Spirits Wirtz Beverage of Illinois
Distributor of the Year - Wine Atlantic Wine & Spirits, a Division of Empire Merchants, LLC, Metro New York
Distributor of the Year - Beer Premium Distributors of Washington DC
SPIRITS
Spirits Excellence Award - Smirnoff Alabama Sales Company, Alabama
Spirits Excellence Award - Johnnie Walker Reliable Churchill of Maryland
Spirits Excellence Award - Jose Cuervo Wirtz Beverage of Illinois
Spirits Excellence Award - Baileys Alliance Beverage of Arizona
Spirits Excellence Award - Captain Morgan Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada
Spirits Excellence Award - Tanqueray Pinnacle Distributing of Colorado
Spirits Excellence Award - Crown Royal Coastal Wine & Spirits of Florida
Spirits Excellence Award - Ketel One Wirtz Beverage of Illinois
Reserve Brands Execution Award - Spirits Atlantic Wine & Spirits, a Division of Empire Merchants, LLC, Metro New York
Control State Excellence Award - Spirits Southern Wine & Spirits of New Hampshire
Winning at Retail Award - Spirits Coastal Wine & Spirits of Florida
Advancing Responsible Drinking Award - Alliance Beverage of Arizona Spirits and Wine
BEER
Beer Excellence Award - Guinness Amoskeag Beverages, New Hampshire
Beer Excellence Award - Smithwick's Alliance Beverage of Arizona
Beer Excellence Award - Red Stripe Pacific Beverage, California
Beer Excellence Award - PABs Glazer's McAllen, Texas
Advancing Responsible Drinking Award - Beer Andrews Distributing of North Texas
WINE
Wines Excellence Award - Sterling Vineyards Alliance Beverage of Arizona
Wines Excellence Award - Beaulieu Vineyard Ben Arnold Distributing Company, South Carolina
Wines Excellence Award - Chalone Vineyard Odom-Southern Distributors, Washington
Wines Excellence Award - Acacia Vineyard Glazer's of Louisiana
Wines Excellence Award - Edna Valley Vineyard Alabama Crown, Alabama
Wines Excellence Award - Rosenblum Cellars Coastal Wine & Spirits of Florida
INNOVATION
Innovation Launch Award - Spirits Georgia Crown Distributing, Georgia; Reliable Churchill of Maryland; Washington Wholesale District of Columbia
Innovation Launch Award - Wine Washington Wholesale District of Columbia
Innovation Launch Award - Beer J&L Ventures, Georgia
GOLDEN BAR CONSISTENCY AWARDS
Golden Bar Consistency Award - Spirits Reliable Churchill of Maryland;
Washington Wholesale District of Columbia
Golden Bar Consistency Award - Beer Premium Distributors of Washington DC
About Diageo
Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O) is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.
Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.
2009 Golden Bar Awards
Diageo Honors America's Leading Spirits, Wine and Beer Distributors at Sixth Annual Golden Bar Award
Contacts:
Zsoka McDonald, Diageo
203-229-4730
Rachel Rosenblatt, FD
212-850-5697
NEW YORK, September 10, 2009 - Diageo honored the country's leading spirits, wine and beer distributors today with the announcement of the Sixth Annual Golden Bar Award winners at www.DiageoGoldenBars.com.
"We are proud to honor the best of the best across beer, wine and spirits, and our desire to pay tribute to them remains stronger than ever. Congratulations to all of our 2009 nominees and winners for their remarkable achievements," said Ivan Menezes, President and CEO, Diageo North America.
Diageo hosts the Golden Bar Awards every year, the beverage alcohol industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards, to celebrate distributors and brokers from across the United States for their excellence in the marketplace and the important role they play in their communities. This year, given the economic climate, Diageo elected to alter the format from a gala event, and is instead honoring nominees and winners online at www.DiageoGoldenBars.com.
Larry Schwartz, President, Diageo USA, said, "The year's challenges in the economy and the industry have made us more keenly aware and appreciative of the outstanding work of our distributors than ever. No matter the format in which we recognize the excellence of our distributors, and no matter the location, one thing has not changed: the Golden Bar Award winners are the best in the industry at what they do and deserve to be acknowledged and celebrated."
The Golden Bar Awards recognize distributors and brokers from across Diageo's brands including Smirnoff, Captain Morgan, Guinness and Beaulieu Vineyard. Awards are also given for outstanding Innovation Launches, Control States excellence, and Distributor of the Year. This year Diageo has introduced a new award - the Platinum Bar - that recognizes the best distributor in promoting responsible drinking.
In total, 32 statuettes made of 24 carat gold will be delivered to the winners. Each Golden Bar statuette weighs eight pounds, stands more than a foot tall and is produced by R.S. Owens, the company that created the Oscar®, presented at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
A complete list of nominees and winners can be viewed at www.DiageoGoldenBars.com. Below are the categories and winners for the 2009 Golden Bar Awards:
DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR
Distributor of the Year - Spirits: Reliable Churchill of Maryland
Distributor of the Year - Wine Washington Wholesale - District of Columbia
Distributor of the Year - Beer: Wright Wisner Companies
SPIRITS EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Spirits Excellence Award - Smirnoff: Reliable Churchill of Maryland
Spirits Excellence Award - Baileys: United Distributors of Delaware
Spirits Excellence Award - Johnnie Walker: Coastal Wine & Spirits of Florida
Spirits Excellence Award - Jose Cuervo: Capitol - Husting Company of Wisconsin
Spirits Excellence Award - Captain Morgan: Diageo Moet Hennessy, Pennsylvania Sales Team
Spirits Excellence Award - Crown Royal: Glazer's of Iowa
Spirits Excellence Award - Tanqueray: Southern Wine & Spirits of New England, New Hampshire
Spirits Excellence Award - Reserve Brands: Washington Wholesale - District of Columbia
Control State Excellence Award - Spirits: Southern Wine & Spirits of Virginia
Venture Market Award - Spirits: Johnson Bros, ND, Northwest Division
President's Award - Share Growth: Glazer's of Ohio
WINE EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Wine Excellence Award - Beaulieu Vineyard: Capitol - Husting Company of Wisconsin
Wine Excellence Award - Sterling Vineyards: Coastal Wine & Spirits of Florida
Wine Excellence Award - Chalone Vineyards: Reliable Churchill of Maryland
Wine Excellence Award - Edna Valley: Coastal Wine and Spirits of Florida Vineyards
Wine Excellence Award - Acacia Vineyards: Glazer's of Ohio
Wine Excellence Award - Rosenblum Cellars: Washington Wholesale - District of Columbia
BEER EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Beer Excellence Award - Guinness: Peerless Beverage
Beer Excellence Award - Smithwick's: Alliance Beverage - Phoenix
Beer Excellence Award - Red Stripe: Summit Distributing - Colorado
Beer Excellence Award - Progressive Adult Beverages: Houston Distributing Company
Venture Market Award - Beer: John G. Ryan, Inc.
GOLDEN BAR CONSISTENCY AWARDS
Golden Bar Consistency Award - Spirits: Empire Merchants North, New York
Golden Bar Consistency Award - Beer: J&L Ventures
INNOVATION LAUNCH AWARDS
Innovation Launch Awards - Spirits: United Liquors LLC, A Division of Martignetti Cos. - Massachusetts
Innovation Launch Award - Wine: Capitol - Husting Company of Wisconsin
NATIONAL ACCOUNTS EXECUTION EXCELLENCE AWARD
National Accounts Execution Excellence Award: Pacific Wine & Spirits of California
ADVANCING RESPONSIBLE DRINKING AWARDS
Advancing Responsible Drinking - Beer: Kramer Beverage
Advancing Responsible Drinking - Spirits & Wine: The Charmer Sunbelt Group - USA
About Diageo
Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O) is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.
Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE).
For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.
2008 Golden Bar Awards
Diageo Honors America's Leading Spirits, Wine and Beer Distributors at Fifth Annual Golden Bar Awards in New York City
New York, NY - (July 11, 2008) – The country's leading spirits, wine and beer distributors were honored at the Fifth Annual Golden Bar Awards at the Museum of Natural History in New York City last night.
Diageo, the world's leading spirits, wine and beer company, hosts the Golden Bar Awards every year, the beverage alcohol industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards, to celebrate distributors and brokers from across the United States for their excellence in the marketplace and the important role they play in their communities.
"Tonight, we honor all of our distributors for their hard work and commitment to building our brands. In this competitive environment, their great passion for this business has been critical to Diageo's success," said Ivan Menezes, President and CEO, Diageo North America.
The Golden Bar Awards recognize distributors and brokers from across Diageo's brands including Smirnoff, Captain Morgan, Guinness and Beaulieau Vineyard. Awards are also given for Innovation Launches, Control states and Distributor of the Year.
In total, 32 statuettes made of 24 carat gold were awarded to distributors. Each Golden Bar statuette weighs eight pounds, stands more than a foot tall and is produced by R.S. Owens, the company that created the Oscar®, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Below are the categories and winners for the 2008 Golden Bar Awards:
DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR
Distributor of the Year – Spirits: Atlantic Wine & Spirits, a division of Empire Merchants LLC of Metro New York
Distributor of the Year – Wine: Atlantic Wine & Spirits, a division of Empire Merchants LLC of Metro New York
Distributor of the Year - Beer: Burke Distributing of Boston
SPIRITS EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Spirits Excellence Award – Smirnoff: Pacific Wine & Spirits of California
Spirits Excellence Award – Baileys: Pinnacle Distributing of Colorado
Spirits Excellence Award – Johnnie Walker: Glazer's of Texas
Spirits Excellence Award – Jose Cuervo: Atlantic Wine & Spirits, a division of Empire Merchants LLC of Metro New York
Spirits Excellence Award – Captain Morgan: Pacific Wine & Spirits of California
Spirits Excellence Award – Crown Royal: Glazer's of Texas
Spirits Excellence Award – Tanqueray: Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada
Spirits Excellence Award – Reserve Brands: Reliable Churchill of Maryland
Control State Excellence Award: Southern Wine / Spirits West
WINE EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Wine Excellence Award – Beaulieu Vineyard: United Distributors of Delaware
Wine Excellence Award – Sterling Vineyards: Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada
Wine Excellence Award – Chalone Vineyards: Washington Wholesale of Washington, D.C.
Wine Excellence Award – Edna Valley Vineyard: Judge & Dolph of Illinois
Wine Excellence Award – Acacia: Glazer's of Texas
BEER EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Beer Excellence Award – Guinness: Phoenix Beverages of New York
Beer Excellence Award – Smithwick's: Chicago Beverage Systems
Beer Excellence Award – Red Stripe: Matagrano Inc. of San Francisco
Beer Excellence Awards – Progressive Adult Beverages: Halo Distributing of Texas, J&L of Georgia
GOLDEN BAR CONSISTENCY AWARDS
Golden Bar Consistency Award – Spirits: National Wine & Spirits of Indiana
Golden Bar Consistency Award – Wine: Pacific Wine & Spirits of California
Golden Bar Consistency Award – Beer: City Beverage of Illinois
INNOVATION LAUNCH AWARDS
Innovation Launch Awards – Spirits: Georgia Crown Distributing, United Liquors Ltd., Martignetti Cos. of Massachusetts
Innovation Launch Award – Wine: Glazer's of Ohio
Innovation Launch Award – Beer: Pine State Beverage of Maine
NATIONAL ACCOUNTS EXECUTION EXCELLENCE AWARD
National Accounts Execution Excellence Award : Judge & Dolph of Illinois
CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP AWARDS
Corporate Citizenship Excellence Award – Spirits/Wines : Alliance Beverage Distributing Co. of Arizona
Corporate Citizenship Excellence Award – Beer: United Distributors of Georgia
About Diageo
Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O) is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines, and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.
Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at http://www.diageo.com.
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere, responsibly.
2007 Golden Bar Awards
Diageo Honors America's Leading Spirits, Wine and Beer Distributors at 4th Annual Golden Bar Awards in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV - (September 27, 2007) – Distributors of spirits, beer and wine from across the country celebrated the Fourth Annual Golden Bar Awards, the beverage alcohol industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards, at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas last night.
In celebrating the company's 10th anniversary, Diageo, the world's leading spirits, beer and wine company, presented the Golden Bar Awards to honor distributors and brokers for their outstanding work in the marketplace the important role they play in their communities.
Ivan Menezes, President and CEO of Diageo North America commended Diageo's distributors for their hard work and contributions to a very successful year in the industry. "We want to recognize the passion everyone here shares for this business and I am extremely proud to be a part of it," Menezes said. "Together we build great brands in the marketplace and without our exceptional distributors and brokers we would not be able to achieve all that we have in this competitive and challenging environment."
The Golden Bar Awards recognize distributors and brokers for performance across Diageo spirits, beer and wine brands including Smirnoff, Captain Morgan, Guinness and Beaulieau Vineyard. Awards are also given for Innovation Launches, Control states and Distributor of the Year.
Also featured in the program were Corporate Citizen Excellence Awards extended to The Charmer Sunbelt Group in the wine and spirits category, DBI Distributing of California in the beer category and to Harvey Chaplin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Wine and Spirits of America, in recognition of his significant contributions to the industry.
"Harvey has made an exceptional difference in his community and our industry this year," said Larry Schwartz, President of US Spirits, Diageo North America. "His unwavering dedication to philanthropy, including committing the company's foundation to match contributions made by employees to the American Red Cross in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, challenges our industry to continue our long heritage of giving back."
In total, 32 statuettes made of 24 carat gold were awarded to distributors. Each Golden Bar statuette weighs eight pounds, stands more than a foot tall and is produced by R.S. Owens, the company that created the Oscar®, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Below are the categories and winners for the 2007 Golden Bar Awards.
DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR
Distributor of the Year - Spirits: Johnson Brothers / United Brokerage of Minnesota
Distributor of the Year - Wine: Pacific Wine and Spirits of California
Distributor of the Year - Beer: Banko Beverage Company of Pennsylvania
SPIRITS
Spirits Excellence Award - Smirnoff: Alliance Beverage Distributing Company of Arizona
Spirits Excellence Award - Jose Cuervo: Alabama Sales Co.
Spirits Excellence Award - Captain Morgan: National Wine & Spirits of Indiana
Spirits Excellence Award - Crown Royal: Southern Wine/Spirits West
Spirits Excellence Award - Baileys: Allied Beverage Group, LLC of New Jersey
Spirits Excellence Award - Johnnie Walker: Judge & Dolph of Illinois
Spirits Excellence Award - Tanqueray: Glazer's of Louisiana
Control State Excellence Award - Spirits: Glazers' of Iowa
WINE
Wines Excellence Award - Beaulieu Vineyard: Deluca/Silver State of Nevada
Wines Excellence Award - Sterling Vineyards: Judge & Dolph of Illinois
Wines Excellence Award - Chalone: Empire Merchants of Metro New York
Wines Excellence Award - Edna Valley Vineyard: Judge & Dolph of Illinois
Wines Excellence Award – Acacia Vineyard: Pacific Wine and Spirits of California
BEER
Beer Excellence Award- Guinness: Standard Distributing of Delaware
Beer Excellence Award- Harp/Smithwick's: Monarch Beverage Company of Indiana
Beer Excellence Award- Red Stripe: Better Brands of Hawaii
Beer Excellence Award- FMBs: Cherokee Distributing of Tennessee
GOLDEN BAR CONSISTENCY
Golden Bar Consistency Award - Spirits: National Wine & Spirits of Indiana
Golden Bar Consistency Award - Wine: Alaska Distributors of Washington
Golden Bar Consistency Award - Beer: Capital Distributing of New Hampshire
INNOVATION
Innovation Launch Award - Spirits: Coastal Wine & Spirits of Florida
Innovation Launch Award - Wine: Ben Arnold Beverage Co. of South Carolina
Innovation Launch Award – Beer: F.P. Winner of Maryland
CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP
Corporate Citizenship Award - Wine & Spirits: The Charmer Sunbelt Group
Corporate Citizenship Award - Beer: DBI Distributing of California, M.E. Fox & Co. of California, Mesa Beverage of California
Corporate Citizen Excellence Award: Harvey Chaplin, Chairman and CEO of Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc
Photographs available upon request
About Diageo
Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O) is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines, and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.
Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at .
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere, responsibly.
2006 Golden Bar Awards
Diageo Presents Third Annual Golden Bar Awards at the USS Intrepid - Spirits, Wine and Beer Distributors Honored
Norwalk, CT – July 17, 2006 – Spirits, wine and beer distributors from across the country boarded the historic USS Intrepid in New York City's Hudson River last Thursday evening for the Third Annual Golden Bar Awards, the beverage alcohol industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards.
The Golden Bar Awards, presented by Diageo, the world's leading spirits, beer and wine company, honors distributors and brokers whose passion for the business and enterprising spirit set the standard for the industry over the past year.
Ivan Menezes, President and CEO of Diageo North America, thanked all of Diageo's distributors, recognizing their "untold examples of achievement and excellence." Menezes saluted the audience citing them all as "leaders in this industry and in your communities."
The Golden Bar Awards recognize distributors and brokers for performance across brands including Smirnoff, Captain Morgan, Guinness and Beaulieau Vineyard. Awards are also given for Corporate Citizenship, Control states and Distributor of the Year. This year, Diageo also recognized distributors for their performance over three years for beer, wine and spirits.
For the first time ever, the program also featured a Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing the immense contribution made to the industry by Juan Francisco Beckmann Vidal, President Jose Cuervo & Company.
"Juan's vision, keen business acumen, love of people and incredible passion for growth are behind his success," said Menezes. "He has transformed Jose Cuervo into the world's most acclaimed tequila."
In total 27 statuettes made of 24 carat gold were awarded to distributors. Each Golden Bar statuette weighs eight pounds, stands more than a foot tall and is produced by R.S. Owens, the company that created the Oscar®, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The aircraft carrier Intrepid helped form the backbone of the United States Navy and its commitment to securing peace and freedom during World War II. The ship was a fitting location given the rich history shared by distributors and Diageo brands alike.
The evening's festivities concluded with an awe-inspiring fireworks display that illuminated the New York City skies.
Below are the categories and winners for the 2006 Golden Bar Awards.
DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR
Distributor of the Year - Spirits: National Wine & Spirits of Indiana
Distributor of the Year - Wine: Alliance Beverage Distributing Company of Arizona
Distributor of the Year - Beer: Summit Distributing of Colorado
SPIRITS
Spirits Excellence Award - Smirnoff: Glazer's of Ohio
Spirits Excellence Award - Jose Cuervo: National Distributing Company of Georgia
Spirits Excellence Award - Captain Morgan: Major Brands of Missouri
Spirits Excellence Award - Crown Royal: Alliance Beverage Distributing Company of Arizona
Spirits Excellence Award - Baileys: Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada
Spirits Excellence Award - Johnnie Walker: Coastal Wine & Spirits of Florida
Spirits Excellence Award - Tanqueray: Alaska Distributors of Oregon
Control State Excellence Award - Spirits: Alabama Sales Company
WINE
Wines Excellence Award - Beaulieu Vineyard: Alliance Beverage Distributing Company of Arizona
Wines Excellence Award - Sterling Vineyards: Alliance Beverage Distributing Company of Arizona
Wines Excellence Award - Chalone: Pacific Wine & Spirits of California
Wines Excellence Award - Edna Valley Vineyard: Pacific Wine & Spirits of California
BEER
Beer Excellence Award- Guinness: Ohio Valley Wine & Beer Company
Beer Excellence Award- Harp/Smithwick's: FP Winner Ltd. of Maryland
Beer Excellence Award- Red Stripe: Houston Distributing Company
Beer Excellence Award- FMBs: J&L Ventures of Georgia
GOLDEN BAR CONSISTENCY
Golden Bar Consistency Award - Spirits: Glazer's of Iowa
Golden Bar Consistency Award - Wine: Phillips Wine & Spirits of Minnesota
Golden Bar Consistency Award - Beer: Alliance Beverage Distributing Company of Arizona
INNOVATION
Innovation Launch Award - Spirits: Coastal Wine & Spirits of Florida
Innovation Launch Award - Wine: Pinnacle Distributing Company of Colorado
CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP
Corporate Citizenship Award - Wine & Spirits: Herman Merinoff, The Charmer Sunbelt Group
Corporate Citizenship Award - Beer: Andrews Distributing of North Texas
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Lifetime Achievement Award: Juan Francisco Beckmann-Vidal, Jose Cuervo & Company
Photographs available upon request
About Diageo
Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines, and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.
Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 200 markets around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com.
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere, responsibly.
2005 Golden Bar Awards
Diageo Presents 2nd Annual Golden Bar Awards on Ellis Island - Achievements of Spirits, Wine and Beer Distributors Celebrated
NORWALK, CT – July 20, 2005 – Spirits, beer and wine distributors from across the country embarked on a journey from Manhattan to Ellis Island on Thursday evening for the Second Annual Golden Bar Awards, the beverage alcohol industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards.
Diageo, the world's leading spirits, beer and wine company, honored its distributors for their outstanding performance in the marketplace as well as for the roles they play in their communities.
The Diageo Golden Bar Awards took place on historic Ellis Island, which served as a gateway to American soil many years ago – a fitting location given the rich history shared by distributors and Diageo brands alike. Diageo awarded 27 statuettes made of 24 carat gold to distributors. Each Golden Bar Award weighs eight pounds, stands more than a foot tall and is produced by R.S. Owens, the company that created the Oscar®, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Ivan Menezes, President and CEO of Diageo North America, recognized distributors for delivering remarkable volume and sales growth. He thanked all of Diageo's distributors, saying "Without your consummate professionalism, ability to forge new and profitable relationships, and many other accomplishments in bringing the Diageo family of brands to market, we simply would not be the best in the business. On behalf of all our brands, I thank you."
The evening's festivities concluded with an awe-inspiring fireworks display in New York Harbor that illuminated the night sky and the nearby Statue of Liberty.
This year's Golden Bar awards went to the distributors whose passion for the business and enterprising spirit set the standard for the industry over the past year. Below are the categories and winners for the 2005 Golden Bar Awards.
Winners of 2005 Golden Bar Awards:
DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR
Distributors of the Year – Spirits: Alliance Beverage, AZ, Coastal Wine & Spirits, FL
Distributor of the Year - Wine: Pacific Wine & Spirits, CA
Distributor of the Year - Beer: Origlio Beverage, PA
SPIRITS
Spirits Excellence Award - Smirnoff: Glazer's of Iowa
Spirits Excellence Award - Jose Cuervo: Reliable Churchill, MD
Spirits Excellence Award - Captain Morgan: Coastal Wine & Spirits, HI
Spirits Excellence Award - Crown Royal: Pacific Wine & Spirits, CA
Spirits Excellence Award - Baileys: Alliance Beverage, AZ
Spirits Excellence Award - Johnnie Walker: Peerless Importers, NY
Spirits Excellence Award - Tanqueray: Southern Wine & Spirits of Kentucky
WINE
Wines Excellence Award - Beaulieu Vineyard: Judge & Dolph, IL
Wines Excellence Award - Sterling Vineyards: Pacific Wine & Spirits, CA
BEER
Beer Excellence Award - Guinness: Summit Distributing, CO
Beer Excellence Award - Smirnoff Ice: Andrews Distributing of North Texas
CHANNEL
On-Premise Excellence Award - Spirits: Glazer's of Ohio
On-Premise Excellence Award - Wine: Coastal Wine & Spirits, HI
On-Premise Excellence Award - Beer: Alliance Beverage, AZ
Off-Premise Excellence Award - Spirits: United Beverages of New Hampshire
Off-Premise Excellence Award - Wine: Alliance Beverage, AZ
Off-Premise Excellence Award - Beer: F.P. Winner, MD
NEW LAUNCHES
Best New Launch Award - Spirits: Georgia Crown Distributing Company, GA
Best New Launch Award - Wine: Washington Wholesale, DC
Best New Launch Award - Beer: DeCrescente Distributing, NY
CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP
Corporate Citizenship Excellence Award - Wine & Spirits: Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada
Corporate Citizenship Excellence Award - Beer: Mesa Distributing, CA
Photographs available upon request
About Diageo
Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines, and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.
Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 200 markets around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Celebrating life, every day, everywhere, responsibly.
2004 Golden Bar Awards
Diageo Presents Golden Bar Awards - and Seinfeld - to Spirits, Wine and Beer Distributors
CHICAGO (July 28, 2004) – Spirits, beer and wine distributors from across the country walked down the red carpet and received the equivalent of the Academy Awards from Diageo, the world's leading premium drinks company, for outstanding performance in the marketplace as well as for the roles they play in their local communities.
The inaugural "Diageo Golden Bar Awards," which included a surprise performance by comic superstar Jerry Seinfeld, carried all the grandeur and celebrity of a Hollywood evening. More than 20 distributors received a 24K gold award which weighs 8 pounds, stands more than a foot tall and was produced by R.S. Owens -- the same company that created the Oscar(R), given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Ivan Menezes, Diageo North America President and CEO, told distributors, "You are truly an invaluable part of our business. Without your extraordinary accomplishments in bringing all of our brands to market -- whether from Diageo Guinness USA, Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines, or Diageo North America Spirits -- we quite literally would have no business."
Menezes credited distributors for Diageo's meteoric rise as the market-leading spirits, beer and wine company. "Our distributors are the ones in the bars, restaurants, shops and stores in every market, every day, building great businesses with our retail customers and delivering tremendous volume and sales growth," Menezes said.
"Just as the Oscars represent excellence in cinematic achievement, our twenty Golden Bar winners are the very best -- their outstanding performance matches the passion they bring to the business," he added.
The following lists the categories and winners for 2004 Golden Bar Awards.
Distributor of the Year - Wine & Spirits: Pacific Wine & Spirits, CA
Distributor of the Year - Beer: Harbor Distributing, CA
Spirits Excellence Award - Smirnoff: Colony Liquor & Wine Distributors, NY
Spirits Excellence Award - Jose Cuervo: Major Brands, MO
Spirits Excellence Award - Captain Morgan: Pacific Wine & Spirits, CA
Spirits Excellence Award - Crown Royal: National Wine & Spirits, IN
Spirits Excellence Award - Baileys: Glazer's of Iowa, IA
Spirits Excellence Award - Johnnie Walker: Coastal Wine & Spirits, FL
Spirits Excellence Award - Tanqueray: Alliance Beverage, AZ
Wines Excellence Award - Beaulieu Vineyard: Pacific Wine & Spirits, CA
Wines Excellence Award - Sterling Vineyards: Southern Wine & Spirits, FL
On-Premise Excellence Award - Spirits: Reliable Churchill, MD
On-Premise Excellence Award - Wine: Alliance Beverage, AZ
Best New Launch Award - Spirits: Glazer's of Texas, TX
Best New Launch Award - Wine: Pacific Wines & Spirits, CA
Beer Excellence Award - Guinness: Lee Distributors, SC
Beer Excellence Award - Smirnoff ICE: Gate City Beverage, CA
On-Premise Excellence Award - Beer: Beechwood Distributors, WI
Best New Launch Award - Beer: JJ Taylor Distributors, FL
Corporate Citizenship Excellence Award - The United Group, MA
About Diageo
Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines, and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.
Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 200 markets around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at http://www.diageo.com/.
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