NORWALK, Conn., Aug. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Diageo, a global leader in beverage alcohol, honored spirits and beer distributors at the 14(th) Annual Golden Bar Awards, which took place recently in Las Vegas. The Golden Bar Awards are presented to distributors demonstrating excellence in sales, marketing and promoting responsible drinking.
"The Golden Bar Awards are one way we are able to come together to show our appreciation for the hard work our distributors do all year long on behalf of our fine brands," said Tom Looney, President, US Spirits and Canada, Diageo North America. "At the Golden Bars we celebrate the successes of the previous year and look ahead to the coming year to discuss how we can work together to help our brands grow."
Tom Day, Diageo Global Sales Officer and Chairman, Diageo Beer Company, USA, reinforced the importance of the Golden Bar Awards: "The Diageo Beer Company had a defining year, and gained lots of exciting momentum. We couldn't have achieved it in the ways that we did without the relationships with our distributors and their mutual commitment to the business. These awards give us an opportunity to acknowledge their invaluable efforts."
The Golden Bar Awards celebrate distributors across the U.S. for their excellence in the industry and the important role they play in their respective communities. Awards are given in seven categories including On Premise Performance, Innovation and Social Responsibility, as well as Brand Excellence. The distinction of Distributor of the Year is also awarded for spirits and beer.
Additionally, Platinum Bar Awards are awarded to a distributor in each of the beer and spirits categories for advancing responsible drinking.
"Diageo places utmost importance on responsible drinking and combatting underage drinking. Our Platinum Bar Awards recognize those distributors who best support these critical initiatives within their own communities," said Jon Pageler, Executive Vice President, Diageo North America.
In total, 26 Golden Bar statuettes, 24 made of 24 carat gold and two made of platinum, were awarded to distributors. Each statuette weighs eight pounds, stands more than a foot tall, and is produced by Society Awards, the company that produces The Emmy's®, presented by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Below are the categories and winners for the 2017 Golden Bar Awards.
DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS ------------------------------ Distributor of the Year - Spirits Southern Glazer's Coastal -Pacific Wine & Spirits Division, Florida Distributor of the Year - Beer Beechwood Distributors, Wisconsin SPIRITS EXCELLENCE AWARDS ------------------------- Spirits Excellence - Smirnoff National Distributing Company, Georgia Spirits Excellence -Johnnie Walker Martignetti Companies, Massachusetts Spirits Excellence - Baileys Martignetti Companies, Massachusetts Spirits Excellence -Captain Southern Glazer's Coastal -Pacific Morgan Wine & Spirits Division, Florida Spirits Excellence - Tanqueray Southern Glazer's Coastal -Pacific Wine & Spirits Division, Florida Spirits Excellence - Crown Royal Breakthru Beverage, United Division Washington D.C. Spirits Excellence - Ketel One Southern Glazer's Coastal -Pacific Wine & Spirits Division, Washington Spirits Excellence - Cîroc Southern Glazer's Coastal -Pacific Wine & Spirits Division, Washington Spirits Excellence - Bulleit Southern Glazer's Coastal -Pacific Wine & Spirits Division, Hawaii Spirits Excellence -Reserve Breakthru Beverage, United Division, Brands Arizona BEER EXCELLENCE AWARDS ---------------------- Distributor of the Year - Guinness Manhattan Beer Distributors, New York Distributor of the Year -Smirnoff Ice Clark Distributing Co., Kentucky Guinness Quality Award Burke Distributing Co., Massachusetts Chain Executional Excellence Southern Glazer's Coastal Pacific Wine & Spirits Division, Texas Executional Excellence Harbor Distributing Llc., California INNOVATION AWARDS ----------------- Innovation Launch - Spirits Southern Glazer's Coastal -Pacific Wine & Spirits Division, Texas Innovation Distributor of the Year Frank B. Fuhrer Wholesale, -Beer Pennsylvania Innovation Distributor of the Year -FMB L. Knife & Son, Massachusetts SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AWARDS ---------------------------- Advancing Responsible Drinking - Coastal Pacific Wines And Spirits Spirits Broker, New Hampshire Advancing Responsible Drinking - Beer DBI Beverage, California ADDITIONAL AWARDS ----------------- On Premise Excellence Award - Breakthru Beverage, United Division, Spirits Maryland Multicultural Excellence - Spirits Breakthru Beverage, United Division, Colorado Three Year Consistency - Spirits Breakthru Beverage, United Division, Colorado Three Year Consistency - Beer J.J. Taylor Distributing, Florida
About Diageo
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice. Follow us on Twitter for news and information about Diageo North America: @Diageo_NA.
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.
View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/diageo-honors-drinks-distributors-at-14th-annual-golden-bar-awards-300505696.html
SOURCE Diageo