News Briefs for December 31, 2014

•Charmer Sunbelt Group has promoted company veteran Greg Baird from COO to president, effective January 1. In his new role, Baird will have expanded oversight of Charmer’s legal, government and regulatory affairs and corporate development, the company said. Baird will report to Charmer Sunbelt chairman and CEO Charles Merinoff, who said the move “will allow Greg to continue to deliver execution excellence for our suppliers and customers, while affording me greater time to focus on our longer term strategic vision.” Baird joined Charmer Sunbelt’s Maryland operation in 1990, when the unit was known as Churchill. In 2007, he assumed the role of vice president of sales for all of Charmer, and was promoted to COO of the group in 2010. The U.S. market’s third-ranked spirits and wine wholesaler, Charmer Sunbelt operates as a distributor or broker in 15 markets. Shanken’s Impact Newsletter projects its 2014 revenues at $5.34 billion, up 3.7% from a year earlier.

•New York-based sake, spirits and wine marketer Davos Brands has partnered with Oregon’s House Spirits Distillery to handle sales and marketing for House’s Aviation American Gin. Davos intends to amp up marketing efforts behind Aviation ($30 a 750-ml.), which is distributed nationally. The London Dry-style gin brand sold 6,500 cases in 2013 and is estimated to reach 9,000 cases this year. Previously, House Spirits had enlisted Blackheath Beverage Group as Aviation’s sales and marketing agent in July 2013. Davos’ portfolio also includes Ty Ku sake and The Real McCoy Rum.

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Tagged : Aviation American Gin, Blackhealth Beverage Group, Charmer Sunbelt Group, Davos Brands, House Spirits Distillery, The Real McCoy Rum, Ty Ku

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