Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits Executive, Ray Lombard, Joins Advisory Council for WSWA Access: A Hub for Craft, Startup and Small Production Wine and Spirits

MIAMI & DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits (Southern Glazer's)-the world's preeminent distributor of beverage alcohol-today announced that Ray Lombard, Executive Vice President, Supplier Management and Business Development, has joined the WSWA Access Advisory Council. WSWA Access, launched by the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA), serves as a hub for craft, start-up and small production wine and spirits, and is an initiative that will feature expert guidance, resources and best practices to help brands navigate industry challenges and identify opportunities to get to market.

The 17-seat Advisory Council structure is comprised of eight craft, start-up or small production wine and spirits brand representatives, seven WSWA wholesaler member advisors to provide counsel and perspective and seats for other industry partners. The council will be tasked with developing relevant content, reviewing strategy and identifying opportunities for industry inclusion and growth.

'Craft and start-up brands drive significant innovation that benefits the entire wine and spirits industry,' said Mr. Lombard. 'They bring new energy to the marketplace and increase the level of consumer interest in all of our products. I'm proud to be part of this collaborative initiative to support this thriving and diverse sector of our industry.'

The WSWA Access microsite serves as a hub that offers a variety of free resources developed with the help of the WSWA Access Advisory Council. The site features short video tips from successful wholesaler/craft, start-up and small production wine and spirits brand owner partnerships; a repository of resources related to regulation and compliance, which brands can use to jumpstart research and avoid regulatory pitfalls; and all past and future WSWA virtual programming of relevant material and much more.

The WSWA Access Advisory Council will be working to develop a playbook designed for craft, start-up and small production wine and spirits brands to use in meetings with wholesalers when attempting to earn a distribution deal. The Playbook will answer the call for a best practices industry template.

The WSWA Access Hub will also feature case studies in a craft, start-up and a small production wine and spirits brand 'Hall of Fame' that identifies brands that went from 'craft, start-up or small production wine or spirit' to a million-case brand by way of the Annual WSWA Convention & Exposition, Brand Battle or a successful member wholesaler partnership.

For more information about Southern Glazer's visit www.southernglazers.com. New suppliers interested in having their product submitted to Southern Glazer's for review can email proposals to [email protected].

About Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits

Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits is the world's pre-eminent distributor of beverage alcohol, and proud to be a multi-generational, family-owned company. The Company has operations in 44 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Canada. Southern Glazer's urges all retail customers and adult consumers to market, sell, serve, and enjoy its products responsibly. For more information visit www.southernglazers.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @sgwinespirits and on Facebook at Facebook.com/SouthernGlazers.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201214005053/en/

Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits, LLC
Cindy Haas
Vice President, Public Relations
Office: (305) 625-4171, ext. 1166
Mobile: (786) 498-7640
Email: [email protected]
or
Jennifer Hanlon
Manager, Public Relations
Office: (305) 625-4171, ext. 1534
Mobile: 305-898-9982
Email: [email protected]

Source: Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits

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