Splash Beverage Group Names Allred Senior VP of Sales
Splash Beverage Group, a portfolio company of leading beverage brands, has named James Michael Allred as senior vice president of sales. Reporting to Splash Beverage Group president Bill Meissner, Allred will become a key member of the leadership team and be responsible for leading the sales organization, driving sales initiatives through Splash’s growing distribution network and building the size of its national retail-chain customer base.
Prior to joining Splash Beverage Group, Allred was employed by Anheuser-Busch InBev, where he held several senior-level sales roles since beginning his career there more than 20 years ago. Most recently, Allred was senior sales director of AB InBev with oversight of InBev’s largest convenience store customer, 7-Eleven, and the team of 30 that serviced this customer.
“The rapid pace of new distribution partners and chain retail customers created the need for a senior level sales position with oversight of our growing team and ever-expanding network of wholesalers,” Meissner said. “He has a proven track record of growing brands within a beer-wholesaler network comprised of the same participants as ours and a history of driving volume through the nation’s largest chain retailers. James saw the enormous opportunity Splash presents and enthusiastically joined the team.”
“As we build out distribution across the U.S.,” said CEO Robert Nistico, “it is imperative that we execute on all current and future opportunities. James is the perfect person for this job, his experience and track record are exactly what we need as the company grows. Every minute of every day, 100 percent of his focus is on distributor and retail execution … which equals more sales and revenue. James will accelerate our traction in the chains and assist our distributors with execution in the street.”
Splash Beverage Group, an innovator in the beverage industry, owns a growing portfolio of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage brands including Copa di Vino wine by the glass, SALT flavored tequilas, Pulpoloco sangria, and TapouT performance hydration and recovery drink. Splash’s strategy is to rapidly develop early-stage brands already in its portfolio as well as acquire and then accelerate brands that have high visibility or are innovators in their categories. Led by a management team that has built and managed some of the top brands in the beverage industry and led sales from product launch into the billions, Splash is rapidly expanding its brand portfolio and global distribution.
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Southern Glazer’s Debuts the Served Up Book Club
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, the world’s preeminent distributor of beverage alcohol, has launched a new online book club at www.southernglazers.com/serveduppodcast. The Served Up podcast features interviews with the hospitality industry’s most respected and celebrated leaders.
Just in time for the busy holiday shopping season, book worms in the beverage industry can check out the Served Up Book Club for recommendations on some of the latest books to buy and read exclusive interviews with the authors who are sharing their knowledge, experiences and stories.
Authors featured include:
- Derek Brown, author of Mindful Mixology: A Comprehensive Guide to No- and Low-Alcohol Cocktails
- Camper English, author of Doctors and Distillers: The Remarkable Medicinal History of Beer, Wine, Spirits and Cocktails
- Kim Haasarud, author of the “101” Cocktail Book Series
- Adrian Miller, author of Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue
- Natalie Maclean, author ofWine Witch On Fire: Rising from the Ashes of Divorce, Defamation and Drinking Too Much
- Shannon Mustipher, author of Tiki: Modern Tropical Cocktails
- Jessica Pettit, author of Good Enough Now
- Julie Reiner, author of The Craft Cocktail Party: Delicious for Every Occasion
Served Up, with hosts Bridget Albert and Julie Milroy, is available on Apple, Spotify and Amazon Music and is a source for beverage professionals to hear conversations on topics such as advocacy, entrepreneurship, and belonging with food and beverage industry and social justice thought leaders representing the diverse hospitality community.
Albert is the senior director, external communications for Southern Glazer’s, a published author of Market-Fresh Mixology and award-winning mixologist with more than 25 years of hospitality industry experience. Milroy is a vice president, supplier development & marketing for Southern Glazer’s with more than 17 years of experience in the beverage alcohol industry including roles in Sales, Human Resources, Marketing, and Commercial Strategy.
To pitch a guest for the show, to submit your book for the Book Club, or to schedule the Served Up team for on-site beverage industry event coverage, contact servedup@sgws.com. For more information about the podcast visit www.southernglazers.com/serveduppodcast.
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Help Kick Hunger Challenge Fights Youth Food Insecurity
Boys & Girls Clubs of America, together with Parichute, The Coca-Cola Company and players of many Major League Soccer, National Women’s Soccer League and United Soccer League teams, launched the first Help Kick Hunger Challenge to fight youth food insecurity in communities across the nation.
In America, 1 in 6 children experiences food insecurity, and throughout Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide, more than 60 percent of youth qualify for free or reduced-price school lunches. Boys & Girls Clubs provide young people with meals, safe spaces, mentors and life-enhancing experiences on their journey to a great future.
Zack Steffen, Goalkeeper, Middlesbrough F.C. (on loan from Manchester City F.C.) and active supporter of Boys & Girls Clubs is calling on fans nationwide to help make an impact. Steffen will kick off the Help Kick Hunger Challenge on Instagram, demonstrating his favorite soccer trick in acceptance of the challenge as he passes the ball to nominees Travis Fulgham (Green Bay Packers, NFL), Chris Frederick (retired professional soccer player, entrepreneur) and JJ Watt (Arizona Cardinals, NFL) to donate and do the same.
“I had a lot of goals coming into this year and one of them was to continue to help children in need,” said Steffen. “It’s been a busy year for me and I’d like to finish it on a high note. In doing so, we created the Help Kick Hunger Challenge. No child should ever have to worry about their next meal, and this is an opportunity for the soccer community and others to support Boys & Girls Clubs of America to make a big difference in the lives of kids.”
This giving season, nearly 50 players from Major League Soccer teams are slated to join the challenge including USMNT’s Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC, defender) and Tim Ream (Fulham, defender) who will represent the United States in Qatar and pledge their support on social media with an exciting USA giveaway.
Additionally, now through Dec. 31, The Coca-Cola Company will match all donations to Boys & Girls Clubs of America through the Help Kick Hunger campaign, up to $50,000, doubling the potential impact to keeping kids fed, fueled and focused on achieving their full potential.
“We know youth can thrive when they have access to healthy meals that keep them fueled and focused,” said Jim Clark, president & CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “We are honored to share nationwide support from Parichute, The Coca-Cola Company and the entire soccer community through the Help Kick Hunger Challenge as we work together to ensure today’s young people become the leaders, innovators and problem-solvers of tomorrow.”
Initially supporting Boys & Girls Clubs located in Major League Soccer markets, the Help Kick Hunger Challenge is calling on everyone to participate by sharing their own videos on social media, tagging @BGCA_Clubs and @Parichute and including #HelpKickHunger in their post. Participants are also encouraged to visit app.parichute.com/project/help-kick-hunger to donate to give young people in Clubs the meals and resources they need to thrive. After all, they’re the only next generation we’ve got.
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