M & R Liquors was founded in 1952 and includes six locations in central Connecticut .
“ In the ‘ 70s , ‘ 80s and ‘ 90s , with the consolidation of suppliers and wholesalers , it changed what it meant to be a retailer ."
– CHARLES SONNENBERG , OWNER , FRUGAL MACDOOGAL
IN NASHVILLE
like Gary ’ s to better compete with Big Box wine and spirits retailers .”
Guild meetings regularly host representatives from major suppliers , such as Diageo . The fall 2022 meeting in Napa Valley included a gathering with Gallo executives at the company ’ s local properties .
Operating as a collective , and communicating about best practices , has also helped expose members to brands and opportunities that allow independents retailers to differentiate in their markets .
“ Beyond the friendships , best practices and learning new ideas from some of the best independent retailers in the country , it has been a great place to build new brands with a higher margin than mainstream products ,” says Ron Vaughn , Co-owner and COO of Argonaut Wine & Liquor in Colorado . “ The first rule is that the product must be a buy that makes the consumer believe ( rightly ) that they got more than their
Wyatt ’ s Wet Goods in Longmont , CO , was founded in 2015 and is among the Guild ’ s newer members .
money ’ s worth . Part of that is visiting wineries and distillers to hear the story of the products , and learn how they are made and how they taste .” Members hope for more of the same as the Guild progesses past its 75th anniversary . “ I ’ d like to see the Guild continue to bring in products that can help us compete with Big Box stores ,” says Todd Randall , Vice President of Randall ’ s Wine & Spirits in Illinois . “ I ’ d also like to see us bring in more members , including finding areas of the country where we don ’ t have members . As an organization you ’ re only as strong as the members you have , and we have a really good core of people .”
GENERATIONAL FUTURE Increasingly , that core includes membership that extends back multiple generations . Many retailers that make up the association have become family legacies — passing on leadership both in the business and in the Guild itself .
www . beveragedynamics . com January 2023 • Beverage Dynamics 13