Market Watch Honors Top Industry Players At Annual Leaders Awards Dinner

The St. Regis Roof was the venue last night for the annual Market Watch Leaders Awards Dinner, which toasted the nation’s best retailers as well as the industry’s top executive and the market’s hottest brands.

Cedric Martin of Martin Wine Cellar in New Orleans was named Market Watch’s Retailer of the Year. Martin, whose business was badly damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, has since rebuilt and even expanded, emerging far stronger after Katrina’s devastation. Martin Wine Cellar has annual revenues of more than $15 million, according to Market Watch estimates.

Bill Terlato, president and CEO of Terlato Wine Group, won the Industry Executive of the Year award. Terlato has led his company for two decades, presiding over a period of unprecedented expansion and diversification.

Nine new Market Watch Leaders were honored at the dinner: Dennis and Mat Dinsmore of Wilbur’s Total Beverage in Fort Collins, Colorado; Mike Judy and Jim Thomas of Thomas Liquors in St. Paul, Minnesota; Adithya Bathena of Buy-Rite Wine & Liquor in Jersey City, New Jersey; Bob Selby of Everett, Massachusetts-based Kappy’s Fine Wine & Spirits; Jason Fremstad of Bentonville, Arkansas-based Walmart; and Lisa Tobin Healey of Lisa’s Liquor Barn in Penfield, New York.

Four long-standing Leaders were also recognized for outstanding achievement. Ken Lewis of The Party Source in Bellevue, Kentucky, a 1991 Leader, won the Leaders Alumni Award for Best Merchandising, while 1985 Leader Dennis Overstreet took home the prize for Best Web Site. Jay Wilson, a 2009 Leader from West Des Moines, Iowa-based Hyvee Inc., earned the Best Advertising award, while 2007 Leader Mark McAlister of Indiana’s Big Red Liquors was honored with the award for Community Service.

The evening also featured the Leaders Choice Awards, which recognize the industry’s fastest-growing brands. The Spirits Brand of the Year was Pernod Ricard-owned Malibu rum, whose volume has jumped by more than 100,000 cases in each of the last two years. The Wine Brand of the Year was Apothic, the hot California blend from E&J Gallo, which grew by more than 90% last year, attracting an impressive audience of millennials. Blue Moon Belgian White Ale from MillerCoors won the Beer Brand of the Year Award, making it a two-time winner following its 2008 win.

Best New Product awards were also conferred. Diageo’s Johnnie Walker Double Black was the Best New Spirits Product, while Constellation’s The Dreaming Tree won Best New Wine Product honors. Angry Orchard Hard from The Boston Beer Co. garnered the award for Best New Product in the beer/cider/RTD category.

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