Beverage Group Vice President Jeremy Nedelka Tel : 763-383-4413 email : jnedelka @ epgacceleration . com

WHEN IN AUSTIN , THERE ARE TWO THINGS I NEED . One is to drink Jester King , the best brewery in the south , located thirty minutes out of the city on a sprawling farm that produces world-class farmhouse ales and sours . The other is the sumptuous breakfast brisket burrito ( say that three times fast ) at Phoebe ’ s Diner , the perfect fill-up stop on the way to the airport .

I had time for both while in town last month for the 75th anniversary meeting of the Wine & Spirits Guild of America . Representing many of the best independent retailers in the industry , this organization , steeped in history , meets biannually . Generations of business leaders gather to share information , learning from one another as well as vendors and producers .

What could be more valuable ? In writing the article on the 75th anniversary ( see last issue ), and throughout the Austin conference , I heard members talk about the importance of taking home new knowledge from these events that benefit their businesses . All it takes is one new thing to improve a store or chain , rendering the conference a worthy investment .

I learned a great deal myself . Similar to my retailer road trip last summer that traversed New York and New Jersey , I enjoyed many in-person conversations in Austin — a window into what ’ s really going on off-premise . No amount of press trips or Manhattan events ( tonight : a Lost Lantern launch at Brandy Library ) can accurately replicate that level of first-hand experience . The Guild meeting will inform my understanding of the industry as much as anything in 2023 .

Which is why everybody should join their state ’ s beverage alcohol retailer associations and attend pertinent conferences . For instance , Beverage Dynamics will host our annual Beverage Alcohol Retailers Conference ( BARC ) June 11-13 in St . Louis . This is another invaluable opportunity to network with peers , sample new products and learn from a wide variety of educational sources . Sign up now at bevretailersconference . com .

Guaranteed , you will bring something back from BARC that will improve your business and make the trip worth it . So it was for me in Austin , so it will be for attendees in St . Louis . And while you ’ re in the city , why not grab some barbecue , or catch a Cardinals game ? That ’ s the fun of traveling for work . Learning valuable new things while taking time to enjoy what ’ s local . We hope you do both at BARC .

Editor , Off-Premise Kyle Swartz Tel : 763-383-4447 email : kswartz @ epgacceleration . com

Managing Editor Jamie Stafford 763-383-4485 email : jstafford @ epgacceleration . com

Contributing Editors Melissa Dowling , Marnie Old , Tom Shay

Sr Regional Sales Manager Mark Marcon Tel : 763-383-4456 email : mmarcon @ epgacceleration . com

National Account Director Debbie Rittenberg Tel : 763-383-4455 email : drittenberg @ epgacceleration . com

Associate Managing Art Director Nicole Siewert

Senior Product Manager , Data & Insights Marina Velez Tel : 763-383-4453 email : mvelez @ epgacceleration . com

LIST RENTAL Kris Grauer email : kgrauer @ npsmediagroup . com Tel : 203-822-7933

REPRINTS For more information on e-prints or reprints from Beverage Dynamics magazine , visit https :// epgacceleration . com / marketing-services / and contact us today or email us at info @ epgacceleration .

Sr VP / Audience Development Joanne Juda-Prainito Corporate Operations Director Bernadette Wohlman CEO Marion Minor

BRAND ACCELERATION

Kyle Swartz Editor , Off-Premise

Beverage Dynamics is published by EPG Brand Acceleration Editorial and executive offices at 10405 6th Ave N , Suite 210 , Minneapolis 55441 Telephone : 763-383-4400 Fax : 763-383-4499

4 Beverage Dynamics • April 2023 www . beveragedynamics . com