Beer Distribution News
CITY Beverage-Bloomington Grows Sales And Staff
Budweiser Distributor Enjoys Both Sales Increase and Personnel Increase
January 22, 2007, Bloomington, Illinois – CITY Beverage-Bloomington concluded the final months of 2006 with a flourish. Posting a noteworthy 2.2% increase in sales, the Anheuser-Busch distributor outperformed all other wholesalers within its district for the second consecutive year. The company also won a Budweiser-sponsored sales incentive program during the key holiday-focused fourth quarter. CITY Beverage-Bloomington competed against Budweiser wholesalers in Illinois and Wisconsin for Bud family volume trend and display share increase.
An affiliate of Detroit-based Soave Enterprises, the Bloomington distributor has responded to its growing business by expanding its sales department. Drawing on its own ranks, CITY Beverage-Bloomington has promoted Chad Kennedy to Team Leader and Doug Connor to Import/Alliance Brand Manager. These new job assignments have also lead to the development of a designated Key Account Manager, a position held by Doug Jameson. Additionally, the internal changes allow Operations Manager Larry Venter to more fully focus his expertise on company operations.
A beverage industry veteran, the newly named Team Leader Chad Kennedy began his career at Brewers Distributing Company in Peoria, Illinois more than 15 years ago. Since joining the CITY team two years ago, he has distinguished himself as a Sales Representative by building outstanding customer relationships and repeatedly exceeding his sales goals.
“We are excited to see Chad’s experience and talent inspire his team in the years to come,” notes CITY Beverage-Bloomington’s General Manager John Caruso.
Import/Alliance Brand Manager Doug Connor also brings a host of hands-on experience to his new position. Talent, determination, and hard work have led Connor to positions of ever increasing responsibility throughout his 19 years in the beer industry. He began working with the CITY Beverage team in 2000 as the Quality and Standards Representative, then afterward sharpening his expertise in Shelf Set and Hand Selling.
“Doug Conner has the leadership skills to establish our high-end and import brands with all of our accounts,” continues Caruso. “Further, our strong year-end finish, combined with the excellent management team we now have in place, will provide us with the momentum to continue our peak performance throughout the new year and beyond.”
CITY Beverage – Bloomington is an affiliate of Soave Enterprises, L.L.C., www.soave.com. Soave Enterprises is a diversified management and investment company founded by Detroit businessman Anthony L. Soave that provides strategic planning, financial and other management resources to its affiliated business ventures in the real estate, automotive retailing, beer distribution, scrap metal, industrial services and transportation industries, among others. Recently, Forbes Magazine ranked Soave Enterprises as the 192nd largest privately held company in the United States.
