June 2019 | Biz Buzz

Biz Buzz

Buzz from Corporate

Every Friday we salute an Associate who demonstrates our core values by posting his or her photo and background on Heidelberg’s social media channels Facebook and Twitter. Congratulations to these Associates who were featured in May:
May 3: Justin Barnes, Lorain – Sales Support
May 10: Scott Ziebeck, Cincinnati – Field Sales Manager Wine
May 17: Gabe Rincon, Toledo – Driver
May 24: Ruffino Ibarra, Kentucky – Operations
May 31: Brett Sharp, Dayton – Operations

→ Wow! Ohio Valley and Heidelberg ROCK with sales of Mike’s Hard Lemonade! In Mike’s 2019 Great Lakes Region “Load of Lemons” competition, we took first, second and third place in the Tier 1 Division:
1^stplace – Ohio Valley Wine & Beer
2^ndplace – Heidelberg Columbus
3^rdPlace – Heidelberg Dayton
In the Tier 2 Division, Toledo placed second, Lorain placed fourth and Youngstown placed eighth. Great Lakes states include Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Indiana, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

→ 2019 Summer Beer Books have been distributed with 10 separate versions printed (all facilities except Cincinnati AB division plus three versions for Kentucky markets). The project was headed up by Director of Craft Chris Emmons, Corporate Craft Brand Manager Nicole Rouhana, Director of Corporate Communications Mike Vander Woude and Lion’s Edge designer Patty Robisch.

→ Director of On Premise Matt Smith, Director of Pricing Tom McNally and IT Software Developer Jeanine Boswell spent nearly six months working on Heidelberg’s new digital price book which recently was launched. This new version gives the sales team the ability to run a price book in Excel “on demand” in real time with accurate pricing, post-offs, discounts, dates etc. It also has much more content including supplier, division, region, varietal style, product class, and inventory using fields in VIP. Kudos to this hard-working team!

→ Many thanks to the IT Team for its recent round of Open Houses which were held in each facility. Training coordinator Matt Clark reports that more than 100 Associates spent time with IT Associates, and the interaction between the sales, admin and management staff were positive. “Displaying the current projects that IT is working on surprised a lot of people,” said Matt. “We had on display “the history” of Sales Mobile devices that started some great conversations and memories with senior employees. The positive reactions on how far we have advanced with technology as a Company was a plus.” Matt also said that the main challenges from the sales professionals was how to clean up e-mails and re-setting their Box password. Both the e-mail and Box password were the most asked questions at each location.

WORKING THE IT OPEN HOUSE IN DAYTON ARE HOLLY HOFFMAN (BACK),
CODY WICKS, ROB SCHIFER AND DANIEL HICKS

Buzz from Cleveland

→ Terra d’OroEvent: Jeff Meyers with Terra d’Oro Winery was in the market in February, where we hosted a trade tasting at Papa Joe’s in Akron; a consumer tasting at Regency Wine Shop; and a dinner at Rose Hill Restaurant in Medina. Many thanks to sales professionals Julianna Mozingo and Robert Monteith for their time and attention with planning these three events.

→ Outdoor Package Show: Cleveland hosted its first Outdoor Package Show on March 4, highlighting all our individual serve package goods specifically targeting country clubs, golf courses, concert venues and outdoor activity centers. Though Mother Nature certainly did not cooperate with the 20-degree weather and snow squalls, those in attendance seemed to appreciate the singular focus provided by the show!

→ Charles Bieler Event: We had the pleasure of hosting Charles Bieler for the second year in a row with the launch of his 2018 Rosé. We hosted a Bieler Event for the trade in an industrial, deconstructed space utilized by our hosts The Kimpton and their on-site restaurant Parkers Downtown.

→ As an incentive bonus The Wine Group hosted Cleveland top sales professionals of the Rosé program to a fun-filled evening at the Cleveland Home Opener. The Tribe defended the White Sox 5-3!

ENJOYING THE GAME (BACK ROW RIGHT TO LEFT) ARE DISTRICT MANAGER PATRICK BRENNAN; SUPPLIER REPRESENTATIVES RYAN WISE AND STEPHANIE STEINHOFF OF THE WINE GROUP; FIELD SALES MANAGER SCOTT TURMAN; AND FINE WINE MANAGER AMY CONGROVE. IN THE FRONT ARE BRIAN DOYLE OF THE WINE GROUP AND JENIA TOLBERT, EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT.

ON APRIL 26 CLEVELAND ASSOCIATES ENJOYED ITS ANNUAL CELEBRATION DAY, WHICH INCLUDED A DELICIOUS FOOD TRUCK FROM A MOVEABLE FEAST, ASSORTED WINES, MUSIC, AN AWARD CEREMONY AND A FEW INTENSE GAMES OF CORN HOLE!

SPIRITS MANAGER ADAM ACUFF RECENTLY SPENT SOME TIME WITH THE SALES TEAM CREATING SEVERAL HANDCRAFTED SIGNATURE COCKTAILS. DURING THIS PRESENTATION HE DISPLAYED HIS FORMER BARTENDING TECHNIQUES, TIPS ON HOW TO INCORPORATE HIGH PROOF SPIRITS INTO MENUS AND KEY SELLING POINTS.

CLEVELAND HOSTED ITS ANNUAL SPRING SHOW HIGHLIGHTING NEW SEASONAL ITEMS AT THE CROWN PLAZA IN INDEPENDENCE TO GET CUSTOMERS EXCITED ABOUT WHAT’S NEXT TO COME! IT WAS A GREAT TURNOUT OF RETAIL CUSTOMERS.

CLEVELAND WINE SALES MANAGER RON UTTERBACK RECENTLY HOSTED A TEAM OUTING AT SPINS BOWL FOR HIS DISTRICT MANAGERS AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM TO THANK THEM FOR ALL THEY DO.

Buzz from Ohio Valley

→ Besides taking first place in the recent Mike’s Lemonade competition, Ohio Valley Beer was recognized as the 12th largest sales distributor in the US for all Mark Anthony Brands — and this is among the country’s biggest markets! OV is the ninth largest distributor for White Claw. White Claw sales have increased 500% in Cincinnati thanks to Ohio Valley while White Claw sales in the total U.S. are up 274%.

CONGRATS TO TEAM OHIO VALLEY BEER FOR ITS FIRST PLACE WIN IN THE 2019 MIKE’S LEMONADE “LOAD OF LEMONS” COMPETITION! A CELEBRATION WAS HELD ON MAY 3.

SALES PROFESSIONALS CHELSEA KAPPA AND CHRISTINA QUINN RACE TO THE FINISH LINE ON THEIR TRIKES.

WHO IS THAT MAN-HORSE? DID YOU GUESS DISTRICT MANAGER CHRIS WAGNER? HE POSES HERE WITH SHANEAN THORPE, MIKE’S SENIOR FIELD SALES MANAGER.

→ Ohio Valley’s New Wine & Craft Spirits show on May 8 at the Anderson Pavilion at the Banks was a great success with about 100 retailers attending. A big thank you to everyone who worked on the event!

RACHEL MOORE, SPIRITS MANAGER

JUSTIN CLINE, WINE SALES PROFESSIONAL

Buzz from Lorain

→ Lorain’s Celebration was held on April 17th and was moved to the warehouse due to inclement weather. Everyone had a great time mingling, enjoying food trucks, music and cornhole games. As a way to get to know each other better, they had banners with everyone’s photo on it.

LORAIN ASSOCIATES HAM IT UP FOR THE GROUP PHOTO AT ANNUAL HEIDELBERG CELEBRATION

HANGING OUT AT THE FOOD TRUCKS

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: KRIS GOCHNAUER, SALES PROFESSIONAL; VALTHAYER, SALES PROFESSIONAL; PAUL KANZ, DISTRICT SALES MANAGER; AMY ZIMMERMAN, DAY WAREHOUSE; AND PAM ASHLEY, SALES PROFESSIONAL.

LORAIN BEER TEAM ATTENDED A TRAINING SESSION ON MAY 10 AT TWIN OAST BREWERY IN PORT CLINTON. AN “OAST” IS A LARGE KILN FOR DRYING HOPS, THUS THE NAME AND THE UNUSUAL ARCHITECTURE.

VP/GM KEVIN KNIGHT(FOURTH FROM THE LEFT) WAS INCLUDED IN THE RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY ON MAY 14 AT THE NEWEST MEIJER STORE IN THE LORAIN MARKET. ON HIS LEFT IS HANK MEIJER, CO-CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF MEIJER; THE REST OF THE PEOPLE IN THE PHOTO ARE MEMBERS OF THE LORAIN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Buzz from Cincinnati

→ The Cincinnati Chapter of Victor’s Pride, a new associate-lead spirit group, had their inaugural event at the Cincinnati office in May. Associates enjoyed delicious desserts made by 17 Cincinnati Associates from a variety of departments. Funds raised go towards Associate engagement activities to build and foster community within and between departments. The group’s next event is a Spirit Week June 3-7. Life Roars Through Us!

CINCINNATI CHAPTER, VICTOR’S PRIDE: KELLY FINE, JENNIFER WALLACE, JAZZ McMULLEN, LINDA ELFRING, DIANE ELLISON ANDCOURTNEY PHIBBS

WINE GSM ROB OWENSDISPLAYS ONE OF COURTNEY PHIBB’S CAKES THAT HE WON IN THE BAKE SALE RAFFLE. WINE TRENDS SALES PROFESSIONAL KRISTAN ELLIS WON A PEANUT BUTTER CAKE. COURTNEY IS A SUPPLY CHAIN SPECIALIST.

→ Cincinnati’s “Spring Sensations” took place at the Midwest Culinary Institute on May 8 with about 120 retailers in attendance. Beer and wine products were paired with recipes prepared by student chefs, followed by master chef cooking demonstrations and product sampling.

RETAILERS MINGLE AND ENJOY FOOD AND PRODUCT SAMPLES

CHEF BILLY MINCEY, HEAD EVENTS CHEF AT MIDWEST CULINARY INSTITUTE; KYLE BEASMORE, ON PREMISE DISTRICT MANAGER; AND ERIK BRAUN, CRAFT BEER MANAGER