Diageo, the world’s leading beverage alcohol company, honored spirits, wine and beer distributors at the Ninth Annual Golden Bar Awards which took place at a number of awards events across the country. The Golden Bar Awards recognize excellence in sales, marketing and promoting responsible drinking.
Larry Schwartz, President and CEO of Diageo North America, said, “The Golden Bar Awards recognize the best of the best in the industry. Our strong relationships with our distributors help to drive Diageo’s success and we thank our distributors for their dedication and hard work demonstrated over the past year.”
The Golden Bar Awards, held for the first time at multiple locations across the United States, celebrate distributors and brokers for their excellence in the marketplace and the important role they play in their communities. The Golden Bar Awards recognize distributors and brokers for performance across Smirnoff, Captain Morgan, Ciroc, Johnnie Walker, Baileys, Jose Cuervo, Tanqueray, Crown Royal, Ketel One, Guinness, Smithwick’s, Red Stripe, Sterling Vineyards, Chalone Vineyard, Acacia Vineyard, Rosenblum Cellars and Beaulieu Vineyard wines. Awards are also given for corporate citizenship, innovation and the grand prizes go to the distributors of the year for beer, wine and spirits.
In total 29 statuettes, 27 made of 24 carat gold, and 2 made of 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®, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Below are the categories and winners for the 2012 Golden Bar Awards.
DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR
Distributor of the Year – Spirits
Coastal Wine & Spirits of Indiana
Distributor of the Year – Wine
Glazer’s of Louisiana
Distributor of the Year – Beer
Alliance Beverage
TRANSFORMATIONAL PRIORITY
Multicultural Excellence Award
Glazer’s of Texas
On Premise Excellence Award
Atlantic Wine & Spirits, a Division of Empire Merchants, LLC, Metro New York
SPIRITS
Spirits Excellence Award – Smirnoff
Coastal Wine & Spirits of Indiana
Spirits Excellence Award – Johnnie Walker
United Distributors of Delaware
Spirits Excellence Award – Baileys
Atlantic Wine & Spirits, a Division of Empire Merchants, LLC, Metro New York
Spirits Excellence Award – Captain Morgan
Coastal Wine & Spirits of Indiana
Spirits Excellence Award – Jose Cuervo
Wirtz Beverage of Illinois
Spirits Excellence Award – Tanqueray
Glazer’s of Missouri
Spirits Excellence Award – Crown Royal
North American Spirits and Wine Brokerage of Pennsylvania
Spirits Excellence Award – Ketel One
Coastal Wine & Spirits of Florida
Spirits Excellence Award – Ciroc
Reliable Churchill of Maryland
Control State Excellence Award
North American Spirits and Wine Brokerage of Ohio
BEER
Beer Excellence Award – Guinness
Peerless Beverage Co.
Beer Excellence Award – Smithwick’s
Harbor Southern California Network
Beer Excellence Award – Red Stripe
Wirtz Beverage of Nevada
Beer Excellence Award – PABs
Faust Distributing Co.
3 Year Consistency Award
Town & Country Distributing
WINE
Wines Excellence Award – Sterling Vineyards
Glazer’s of Texas
Wines Excellence Award – Beaulieu Vineyard
Coastal Wine & Spirits of Florida
Wines Excellence Award – Chalone Vineyard
Coastal Wine & Spirits of Florida
Wines Excellence Award – Acacia Vineyard
North American Spirits and Wine Brokerage of New Hampshire
Wines Excellence Award – Rosenblum Cellars
Capitol – Husting Company of Wisconsin
Control State Excellence Award
North American Spirits and Wine Brokerage of New Hampshire
INNOVATION
Innovation Launch Award – Spirits
Wirtz Beverage of Illinois
Innovation Launch Award – Wine
Pinnacle Division of Beverage Distributors Company, Colorado
Innovation Launch Award – Beer & PABs
Yahnis Distributing
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Advance Responsible Drinking – Beer
RMC Distributing Co.
Advance Responsible Drinking – Spirits & Wine
Major Brands, Inc of Missouri
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