Richard Verrecchia left OSI Restaurant Partners to launch a new venture, NEAT Beverage Concepts. The Lutz, Fla.-based firm focuses on bringing vendor solutions to regional and emerging chain restaurants. Verrecchia joined Outback Steakhouse in 2001 as Director of Beverage and held the post for OSI Restaurant Partners until his recent departure.
T.G.I. Friday’s honored its top beverage supplier partners on June 7 at the 2010 Supplier Summit held in Frisco, Texas. Awards included Skyy Spirits for beverage innovation, Constellations Brands for development/education, E. & J. Gallo for development/education and Diageo for product innovation and support.
A Seattle Starbucks location will be the first in the chain to offer beer and wine. Starbucks Corp. dabbled in alcohol beverages at its 15th Avenue Coffee & Tea and Roy Street Coffee & Tea concept locations in Seattle last year. The addition of beer and wine is part of a total remodel of the location to include a “coffee theater” and an outdoor patio.
Glazer’s Companies announced Sheldon “Shelly” Stein as the new president and CEO of Glazer’s Distributors. He will be in charge of Glazer’s beverage distribution business. Stein was the vice chairman of Global Investment Banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch since 2008. The new chairman of Glazer’s Advisory Board will be Jerry Cargill.
The American Beverage Institute’s 2010 Members Conference will be held October 14 at the PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., followed by dinner at the Capital Grille. A Welcome Cocktail Hour is scheduled for the evening of October 13, and ABI's Golf Invitational will take place the morning of October 15. Visit www.abionline.org to register.
Dallas-based Brinker International Inc. completed sale of 162-unit On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina to San Francisco-based private equity firm Golden Gate Capital for $180 million. Brinker’s president Doug Brooks said proceeds from the sale will be used to repurchase company shares and show its commitment to shareholders.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has launched its new website, www.fineWineAndGoodSpirits.com. The site replaces www.pawineandspirits.com, and includes unified product search for online, in-store and special order (SLO) products.
SKYY Spirits, LLC named Nicole Tempesta as the new on-premise sales manager for the brand. She previously worked as the field marketing and sales representative at Luxco Spirited Brands.
John Broderick was named vice president, northeast division at the Sidney Frank Importing Company. In his previous position, he was vice president at Nolet Spirits, leading control states and the eastern region.