June 28, 2011 / by J Smoke Wallin / Make A Comment / Filed under 2011 Event, Distributors, E-commerce, eskye, Supply Chain, WITS Happenings
Hope to see you there!
Smoke
Three-Tier Trade Sales & Marketing Panels Announced At The Seventh Annual Wine Industry Technology Symposium, July 12-13, 2011
June 24, 2011, Napa, CA – The Wine Industry Technology Symposium® WITS®, the premier event showcasing innovation and strategic use of information technology and services for the wine industry, has announced two key panels on three-tier trade sales and marketing discussions this year at the seventh annual conference July 12-13, 2011 at the Marriott Napa Valley.
The Trade Sales & Marketing panels begin with a candid overview on how wineries, distributors, and retailers can collaborate better.
For the first exciting panel, a representative of each tier plus a moderator will be concentrating on communications between wineries, distributors and retailers that are currently in place. This panel will discuss industry benefits from better information integration and the technical, operational and financial ramifications that result from embracing (or avoiding) standards and how to evolve them. They will draw from the extensive successes GS1 has experienced working with the largest retailers and manufacturers in the world in consumer product goods. Panelists include: Michael Saitow, CIO & Sales Operations, MS Walker; Ian Griffith, Director, Ecommerce, Beverage Media Group; Tom Hatton, Strategic Account Executive, 1Sync; Joe Gregg, Vice President, IT and Business Process St. Michelle Wine Estates; and
Stephen R. Arens, Director, Industry Engagement, GS1 US. Moderator will be John Collins CEO, Great Vines.
The second interactive panel will discuss the use of the latest in market tools, best practices and case stories from the field. It will have an informative overview of iPad use throughout the world of wine as well as an in-depth look at how Jordan uses the iPad in their sales and winery operations. Panelists include: Lisa Mattson, Director of Communications, Jordan Vineyard and Winery and Cathy Huyghe, Founder, Red White Boston with Heather Crawford, Director of IT, Amy’s Kitchen as moderator.
Both panels promise to have a lively discussion between retailer, distributor and winery as well as the attendees. WITS focus on “take home value” will be front and center as these panels include live examples and integration with the attendees.
“When I was a distributor and was Chairman of WSWA, we spent many years discussing supply chain integration and industry standards working with the ABI-EC and later GS1. Later as a technology CEO, I worked hard to bring tools to the industry to accomplish some of the goals we had established. Today as a supplier to the industry in wine, spirits and beer, I continue to work with all three theirs to encourage adoptions of standards and further collaboration. These panels are near and dear to my experience and I believe everyone who has an interest in these topics will benefit from them.” said Smoke Wallin, WITS co-chair.
For more information on speakers and topics, visit www.WineIndustryTechnologySymposium.com. Registrations are now being accepted online.
About Wine Industry Technology Symposium (WITS)
The Wine Industry Technology Symposium (WITS) was created in 2005 by a group of wine industry and technology professionals. The purpose of WITS is to address the unique information technology and services needs of the wine industry. WITS is dedicated to bringing the world’s leading wine industry professionals together with some of the world’s leading technology experts to foster learning and discussion. Panels of experts will discuss specific examples and case studies. www.WineIndustryTechnologySymposium.com
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Media Contact:
Lesley P. Berglund, co-chair, 707-246-6827
June 23, 2011 / by J Smoke Wallin / Make A Comment / Filed under Brand Management, Distributors, News, Pelican Brands, The Paddington Corporation
Pleased to share this announcement – Paddington Corp Merges with Pelican Brands forming Paddington Brands, LLC
FOR RELEASE June 23, 2011
Media contact:
Heather Carden
001-317-574-6408
The Paddington Corp Announces Merger With Pelican Brands
Indianapolis, IN USA – June 23, 2011 – The Paddington Corporation today announced the completion of a merger with Pelican Brands, LLC. The combined company will be known as Paddington Brands, LLC. Paddington is based in Carmel, IN and also has offices in Napa, CA and 3rd party warehousing in NJ and CA. Paddington owns Tequila 3 Amigos, the Napa Smith Brewery & Winery, and is the exclusive Importer and U.S. sales agent for a prestigious portfolio of wine and spirit brands.
Since January, Paddington, through outside investors, has injected nearly $1 million into the business to expand Napa Smith Beer and Tequila 3 Amigos in multiple markets throughout the US. The Company is committed to rolling out both brands nationally in 2011.
J. Smoke Wallin, Chairman & CEO of Paddington Brands said, “Paddington understands what today’s consumer wants– authentic, hand crafted brands with a great taste. Our team has deep industry knowledge of the distribution and retail tiers of the business providing a rapid national route-to-market in all segments of beverage alcohol.”
Our Brands
- Napa Smith Brewery & Winery: Napa Smith Beer, now available in 32 states, is a unique brand that brings the best of Napa Valley in quality and lifestyle to the fastest growing segment of the beverage industry, Craft Beer. Our brew master, Don Barkley, has been brewing amazing craft beers since 1979. Napa Smith Winery has produced award-winning wines in the past three years and is sold primarily in the Western U.S.
- Tequila 3 Amigos: Paddington’s partner in Tequila 3 Amigos is the Gonzalez family of Arizona and Mexico, where they have grown agave for generations. Paddington has announced partnerships for Tequila 3 Amigos with major NASCAR venues including Talladega, Phoenix International Raceway, California’s Auto Club Speedway, Darlington Raceway, Kansas, and Michigan International Speedways. Tequila 3 Amigos has had three named races in the past year including the 3 Amigos Tequila Talladega 250 ARCA race in April. The Company expects Tequila 3 Amigos to be distributed in over 25 states by year-end.
- Chase Distillery: Paddington also imports the Herefordshire, UK-based Chase Distillery’s Chase Vodka and Elderflower Liqueur and has launched it in ten states in the U.S..
- Paddington Wines: Since January 2011, Paddington has sold Agostón Wines from Spain into 4,085 Walgreens stores in thirty-one states. Agostón has also consistently received 90+ points in the Penin Wine Rating Guide. Paddington Brands also represents: Calatrasi from Italy, award-winning Gemtree from McLaren Vale Australia, and Brent Marris’s newest venture, Marisco Wines – The Kings Series and The Ned.
Wallin continued, “The new Paddington Brands is an exciting company that aligns an extremely talented group of industry leaders with explosive growth brands. We plan to build on our momentum as a brand investor and incubator. We are also continuing to selectively and opportunistically make acquisitions providing us additional scale.”
About Paddington
The Paddington Corp. was built upon a rich tradition of some of the industry’s greatest brands. In 1937, Charles Guttman founded the original Paddington Corporation, which became the exclusive importer of Justerini & Brooks Ltd. (J&B) scotch, and a very successful creator of brands including Bailey’s Irish Cream. Paddington was acquired by several large conglomerates in the 1960s – 1980s and eventually became a division of Diageo, the worlds largest spirits company. Diageo later folded the Paddington entity into its larger North American sales force and it has remained dormant until now. The new Paddington Brands, LLC, though a completely independent and unaffiliated company, draws on this rich tradition of building brands over the long term that Charles Guttman started so many years ago.
Paddington is headquartered in Carmel, IN, with offices in the United Kingdom and Napa, CA and a sales team covering the U.S. market and select international markets. Paddington is actively seeking acquisitions in the wine, spirits, beer and non-alcoholic beverage space. Follow us on Facebook http://on.fb.me/afmdBU and on Twitter @paddingtonbrands and on the web at www.paddingtonbrands.com
May 22, 2011 / by J Smoke Wallin / Make A Comment / Filed under 2011 Event, Brand Management, Distributors, New Products - Brands, Pelican Brands
I’m very pleased to share a recap of our awards from the most recent WSWA wine and spirits tasting.
WSWA Wine & Spirits Tasting 2011, Sponsored By The Tasting Panel -With 18 medals- More Than Any Other Wine & Spirits Supplier
3 Amigos Blanco Tequila wins “Best of Show Silver Tequila” and Gold Medal.
Gemtree White Lees Shiraz Wins “Best of Show Red Wine” and Gold Medal.
Carmel, IN, USA – May 23, 2011 – Pelican Brands proudly announced today that its portfolio of world class wines and spirits garnered a whole host of new medals and awards at the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) Wine and Spirits Tasting held in April, in Orlando Florida. The awards were sponsored by the respected industry publication The Tasting Panel and came after rigorous blind tasting sessions with esteemed independent beverage industry judges. Pelican Brands portfolio won two Double Gold medals, three Gold medals and thirteen Silver medals in all as well as two of the coveted “Best of Show” for tequila and red wine.
A major highlight was the award of a Gold medal and “Best Silver Tequila” to 3 Amigos Blanco, a 100% blue agave tequila founded by the Gonzalez family. The product is made from agave grown at his family’s farm in Mexico.
Award winning 3 Amigos Tequila
J. Smoke Wallin, Chairman & CEO of Pelican Brands said, “3 Amigos is all about good times and fun, which is amply demonstrated by its associations with International Speedway Corporation host of many of NASCAR’s best events, through sponsorship of numerous tracks and races throughout the calendar. However, 3 Amigos fans are extremely discerning and know quality when they taste it. This medal just shows what they and millions of other tequila fans are coming to know – 3 Amigos is above all else, great tequila.”
Gemtree Vineyards 2007 White Lees Shiraz won the “Best of Show Red Wine” much to the delight of Andrew Buttery, Managing Director of Gemtree Vineyards, who said, “We have been making wine for three generations and won our fair share of accolades along the way, however, this one is particularly special. We try to make our wines the very best way we know how and have been producing 100% biodynamically since 2008. We put a lot of heart and soul into it, and this award makes us very proud.” Andrew and the team at Gemtree had further success as their Uncut Shiraz 2008 also won Double Gold.
Gemtree - Single Bottle Shot - 07_whitelees
The final gold medals were a Double Gold, awarded to the Napa Smith Winery® for its 2007 Napa Smith Merlot and a gold for Vina Underraga’s 2010 (oops) Carmenere. More famed for its award winning craft beers, the
2007 Napa Smith Merlot
Napa Smith Winery has also been making exceptional wines. Like everything that bears the Napa Smith name this wine epitomizes all that is so great about Napa’s love affair with artisanal food and drink.
Chilean Carmenere is seen by many as ‘the next malbec’ and if this true then (oops) will surely lead the way with its marriage of serious wine and an irreverent attitude. (oops) was also awarded a further three silver medals.
Amongst other wineries winning Silver medals were three for Marisco Vineyards of Marlborough, Zealand, one for Vinedos de Aguilla, Spain for its Agoston Tempranillo and Carbernet 2009 now in 4,000 Walgreens stores, and Las Perdices Winery from Argentina for its 2009 Barking Sheep Malbec.
Agoston Tempranillo Cabernet from Spain - now available at ALL Walgreens
Wallin continued, “Pelican Brands has made great strides in the development of our global wine program in the past months. We are assembling an incredible portfolio of world-class wines, and this is very much evidenced by this wonderful haul of awards and medals. We are huge supporters of WSWA and extremely proud to have performed so well. These wines are already in much demand and this is sure to kick on from here.”
About Pelican Brands
Pelican Brands manages a portfolio of owned and agency premier import & craft beers, artisanal spirits and fine wines. Our team has extensive experience in the global beverage and consumer packaged goods industries. Our brands include the award winning craft brewer, Napa Smith Brewery & Winery, 3 Amigos Tequila and a portfolio of incredible agency brands of spirits, beer and wine. Pelican Brands is headquartered in Carmel, IN, with offices in the United Kingdom and Napa, CA and a sales team covering the U.S. market and select international markets. www.pelican-brands.com And on Facebook http://on.fb.me/afmdBU And follow us on Twitter @pelicanbrands
