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Wine & Spirits

Metz to Head Southern Glazer’s Central Region

Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, the world’s preeminent distributor of beverage alcohol, has appointed Matthew Metz to the position of president, Central Region, effective February.

In this role, Metz will report to John Wittig, Southern Glazer’s chief commercial officer, and will be responsible for leading all business activities in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas markets.

“Over the years, Matt’s exceptional leadership skills and deep industry knowledge have brought tremendous value to Southern Glazer’s,” said Wittig. “In addition to his expertise and extensive skill set, Matt is dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace culture and leaves a positive mark on everyone he works with. He is the perfect fit for this role and we’re looking forward to seeing the success and continued growth he brings to the Central Region.”

Metz began his 31-year career in the beverage alcohol industry in 1992 as a sales representative at Jim Beam in Michigan. He spent the next two decades at Jim Beam Brand Company, now Beam Suntory, in a variety of sales and strategy roles of increasing responsibility, with his last position being general sales manager of the American Region and Mexico. Metz joined Glazer’s in 2013 as senior vice president, sales & marketing for Texas. In his most recent role, he served as executive vice president, general manager, Texas.

Metz’s successor in Texas will be announced before February.

Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is the world’s preeminent distributor of beverage alcohol, building brands for moments that matter. The multi-generational, family-owned company has operations in 44 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and Canada, as well as brokerage operations through its WEBB Banks division in the Caribbean, Central and South America. Southern Glazer’s urges all retail customers and adult consumers to market, sell, serve, and enjoy its products responsibly.

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Gopuff, Rapper Rick Ross Team for New Year’s Eve Specials

Rapper Rick Ross for GopuffGopuff, the app that gets you what you need in 30 minutes, and Grammy-nominated rapper Rick Ross are coming together to make this New Year’s Eve more Boss than ever. On Dec. 31, Ross is coming on board as Gopuff’s new Chief Delivery Boss to bring customers 21+ the best value on bubbly, party supplies and more, so they can ring in the new year in – attainable – luxury and style.

Ross said: “When Gopuff asked for my help in making sure all of their customers can throw Boss New Year’s Eve parties, I had only one request: we have to do it BIG! We’re bringing you Luc Belaire, 24¢ mini bottles of bubbly, and more – all delivered to your door in minutes on New Year’s Eve. It’s almost Too Good to Be True. Can’t wait to celebrate with Gopuff on Dec. 31.”

Gopuff FAM members shopping the Gopuff app or website can take advantage of several Boss New Year’s Eve Deals beginning at 11 a.m. Eastern on Dec. 31:

24¢ for select mini bottles of sparkling wine (limit two per customer)
24% off full-sized (750ml and 1.5L) bottles of Luc Belaire
50% off essential party supplies, including:
Confetti Cannons
Fool’s Gold Edible Glitter
Glow Sticks
Utz Cheddar Cheese Ball Barrel
Martinelli’s Sparkling Cider
Goslings Ginger Beer
Fever-Tree Ginger Ale
Basically, Red Cups
And more!
Plus, all Gopuff customers can get 15 percent off sparkling wines and Champagne when they purchase three bottles.

All offers are available while supplies last, in select markets and based on applicable state laws.

Nearly 80 percent of Gopuff customers said they plan to celebrate the new year at home and the number one beverage they plan to purchase for the holiday is Champagne. Whether customers are simply too busy to stop for supplies this season, run out of Champagne just before the ball drops, or forget a few important party essentials, Gopuff and its New Year’s Eve Chief Delivery Boss Rick Ross are here to save the day.

Gopuff remains committed to providing customers with high-quality essentials at affordable prices. Gopuff’s New Year’s Eve Boss Deals come on the heels of the company’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday discounts, which brought customers 62% off FAM memberships, and $0.31 Halloween candy deals.

Earlier this year, Gopuff introduced new benefits for its FAM members, including lower-than-Walmart prices on hundreds of top-selling essentials, and introducing weekly deals for even greater savings. As a result, FAM members save an average of $25/month ($300/year).

Gopuff is the leading instant commerce platform, bringing thousands of everyday products to customers in minutes. Gopuff stores everything from household essentials and groceries to OTC medication and more within hundreds of micro-fulfillment centers and omnichannel retail stores across the United States and United Kingdom. Founded in 2013 by co-founders and co-CEOs Rafael Ilishayev and Yakir Gola, Gopuff’s unique, vertically integrated platform offers customers a seamless and consistently fast shopping experience.

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Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival Returns After 5 Years

Hong Kong Tourism Board invites food and wine lovers from around the world to celebrate the return of the city’s large-scale outdoor culinary event, Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival. The four-day festival kicks off a month-long series of exciting nightlife events taking place citywide throughout November.

Taking place from Oct. 26-29 at Victoria Harbour’s Central Harbourfront Event Space, Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival 2023 will be a four-day gourmet extravaganza backdropped by the iconic city skyline. After a five-year hiatus, the physical event is back, and ready to welcome visitors to visit nearly 300 booths showcasing global food and wine,

Wine will naturally be a focus of the festival, with the popular Major Country Pavilions showcasing makers from 36 countries around the world. This year, the spotlight will be on the classic vintages from France and Italy and emerging wine regions from Thailand, Moldova and Finland. In a Festival first, a dedicated display for Chinese Wine Discovery is being introduced, featuring wine merchants including Xige Estate and Chateau Mihope from Ningxia (Northwest China), Yunnan Red Wine & Spirits, and Shandong-based Mystic Island Winery.

Visitors can indulge in a diverse array of global flavors, with dishes ranging from punchy, street food and nostalgic local favorites to refined hotel delicacies.

New to the Festival is Tasting Theatre, a series of hands-on workshops for visitors feeling inspired to roll up their sleeves and don an apron. Cooking demonstrations and workshops will be led by celebrity chef He Jiansheng from Shunde, Guangdong and award-winning Taiwanese baker Wu Pao-chun, who will join Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival for the first time.

Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival 2023 will serve as a launching pad for a month of culinary celebrations taking place around Hong Kong. Throughout November, Taste Around Town will highlight over 300 of Hong Kong’s best places to eat and drink, with exclusive discounts, limited-time menus and more that will strengthen Hong Kong’s position as one of the world’s top dining destinations.

For more details about Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival 2023 – and for more ways to experience Hong Kong’s world-class food scene and nightlife, please visit the HKTB website: DiscoverHongKong.com/WineDineFestival

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