New Holland recognizes brand champions

New Holland Brewing Co. hosts an annual Wholesaler Summit, which wholesalers from around the country attend. New Holland presents on the year ahead, talks about new and developing product lines and also takes a moment to reflect on the hard work from the year before.

“Wholesalers bring our products to market and are the life blood of our brand’s regional footprint,” said Fred Bueltmann, vice president of sales and marketing at New Holland. “We count on them to carry our brand message while remaining consistent with our values. It’s important for us to recognize their hard work and commitment to us in the field.”

The awards recognize “brand champions” who showed exemplary effort and recognizes them as finalists in each of four divisions. The winner for each division was presented with a commemorative engraved drinking vessel during the spirited awards ceremony, concluding the annual Summit Dinner on Jan. 13.

Boot and Flask Awards 2013 – Brand Champions

Flask Award: New Holland Artisan Spirits

Winner: Stoller Wholesale – 249 percent growth due to major brand investment and display programs, as well as enthusiastic and hardworking staff like Monique Huston.

Brand Champion Finalists included: Hunterdon Brewing Co. (N.J.); River City Distributing (Wisc.)

Boot Award (1 Liter Beer Division)

Winner: Town & Country Distributors – Performed ahead of goal in their first year as a new distributor using creative sales strategies and an enthusiastic management team.

Brand Champion Finalists included: Comer Distributing Co. (S.C.); Heidelberg Distributing Co. (Ky.); Pike Distributors (Mich.)

Boot Award (2 Liter Beer Division)

Winner: Indiana Beverage – Had huge growth numbers on year-round products, implemented robust training program and continued to show market leadership.

Brand Champion Finalists included: Beechwood Sales & Service (Wisc.); Hop & Wine Beverage (Va.)

Boot Award (5 Liter Beer – Funf)

Winner: Alliance Beverage – Promoted on-premise events and continues strong brand communication with internal staff and account base – all while undergoing a major transition phase with their company.

Brand Champion Finalists included: Alliance Beverage (Mich.); Modern Beverage (Mich.); Rave Associates (Mich.); United Distributors (Ga.)

This year, New Holland also inducted inaugural members to their Barrel Stave Hall of Fame, a collection of individuals who have helped make the world a better place in which to eat and drink through their dedication, effort and passion to craft beer and spirits. They received a commemorative barrel-stave plaque and will be immortalized by their presence on New Holland’s Hall of Fame Barrel Heads, hanging in the company’s Production Campus.

2013 Barrel Stave Hall of Fame Inductees include:

Kirk “Sheen” Antekeier (Modern Beverage – Holland, Mich.)
Laura Blasingame (The Map Room – Chicago, Ill.)
Brian Giampapa (Logan’s Alley, Graydon’s Crossing, Derby Station – Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Kelly Ann Glomb (Wooden Nickel – Marquette, Mich.)
David Gregory (Foran’s Grand Trunk – Detroit, Mich.)
Robb Hammond (Food Dance – Kalamazoo, Mich.)
Monique Huston (Stoller Wholesale – Chicago, Ill.)
Alex Huebner (Weegee’s Lounge – Chicago, Ill.)
Bruno Johnson (The Sugar Maple – Milwaukee, Wisc.)
Rick Lack (Rave Associates – Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Matt Millar (La Collina – Saugatuck, Mich.)
Matt Pietsch (Salt of the Earth – Fennville, Mich.)
Brett Pontoni (Binny’s – Chicago, Ill.)
Josh Taylor (Comer Distributing – Rock Hill, S.C.)