2011: Year of the Independent Retailer?

By Shane T Williams

Passionate independent retailers showed up in force last night to support the Independent Liquor Group’s 'Liquor Appreciation Dinner' at Casa De Nico in Sydney’s King St Wharf.

ILG has big plans for 2011 and the co-operative is confident it has left behind recent difficult times for a brighter, more inclusive and family-orientated approach to retailing.

A turn-out of about 180 liquor retailers took the time to get to know fellow members in a relaxed setting and enjoyed wines from another family-orientated company, Brown Brothers, as well as Gruppo Campari.

ILG CEO Doug Evans reiterated his believe in the strength of relationships within the liquor industry and that the focus must be about people, something ILG is determined to champion this year.

Newly appointed ILG ambassador Glenn Wheeler (The Morning Show) was emcee for the event.

With a keen interest in keeping the 'big two' honest, Wheeler committed himself to assisting ILG retailers to stay focused and motivated while spreading the word in the community to shop at your local bottle shop.

Upcoming ILG events over 2011 will include:

• April – ILG Corporate Golf Day
• May – ILG Trade Day
• June – ILG Race day (Rosehill Gardens)
• July – ILG Christmas in July

In keeping with the Italian theme, members were treated to a range of exciting wines from Brown Brothers including their true to style Pinot Grigio and Tempranillo as well as their NV Prosecco.

Balancing the wines were cocktails by Gruppo Campari including the brands Aperol, Campari and American Honey, with the American Honey girls a big hit on the night.

Brown Brothers field sales manager Bruno Ramos and sales merchandiser Eduardo Bianca took the opportunity to get to know some of their ILG customers on a social level, as did Campari key account manager Mathew Pallister and state manager Jason MacLean.

Click on the video for the thoughts of ILG CEO Doug Evans on the importance of people in the ILG family.