Immediate Statewide Representation Planned for Leading Wine & Spirits Importer & Marketer
NEW YORK, April 16, 2012 — W.J. Deutsch & Sons, Ltd. (Deutsch), a leading marketer of award-winning wines and spirits from around the world, and Southern Wine & Spirits, the nation's leading wine and spirits distributor, have announced the signing of a distribution agreement with Southern Wine & Spirits of America of Minnesota (Southern), granting Southern the rights to sell Deutsch's entire portfolio in the State of Minnesota. Effective April 12, this agreement is consistent with the other agreements that Deutsch and Southern have around the country, including mutually agreed-upon sales and marketing approaches and goals.
W.J. Deutsch & Sons CEO Peter Deutsch noted, "W.J. Deutsch & Sons has worked hand in hand with Southern Wine & Spirits for 31 years to build our brands — a testament to our commitment to building enduring partnerships with other family owned companies. We look forward to extending that success to the Minnesota market."
"We are extremely proud of this vote of confidence by W. J. Deutsch & Sons, and we look forward to working closely with the entire Deutsch team responsible for the dynamic Minnesota market," said Wayne E. Chaplin, President & Chief Operating Officer of Southern Wine & Spirits of America.
"We are excited to add Minnesota to the fold of markets where we have partnered with Southern. We are confident that the performance-driven culture we have created in other markets will quickly translate to Minnesota, and that together we can build our brands and our business to new heights," commented Tom Steffanci, President of W. J. Deutsch & Sons, Ltd.
Brad Vassar, Southern's Executive Vice President, General Manager, added, "Working with Will Conniff — Executive Vice President, General Manager of our Minnesota, Illinois and Kentucky divisions — along with our Company's entire in-state Minnesota team, we are confident that our partnership with Deutsch in Minnesota will soon bring a new level of service excellence to all of our on- and off-premise customers across the state."
About W.J. Deutsch & Sons
W.J. Deutsch & Sons, Ltd. was founded in 1981 by Chairman Bill Deutsch to market quality wines produced by prestigious families from major wine regions of the world. In 2009 Deutsch announced the expansion of the award-winning company to include a separate Spirits Division, W.J. Deutsch Spirits LLC. Deutsch's wines and spirits are sold to the trade with well-planned marketing support and are offered to U.S. consumers at fair market prices. Today the company is renowned for its brand building prowess and its ability to meet the needs of the modern consumer. Bill's son Peter Deutsch is CEO; thus two generations of the Deutsch family work side by side in their continuous quest to build strong brands and relationships throughout the wine and spirit industry.
The W.J. Deutsch & Sons portfolio includes award-winning wines from Australia: [yellow tail], [yellow tail] The Reserve, [yellow tail] Bubbles; California: Girard Winery, Windsor Sonoma, Sonoma Coast Vineyards, Kunde Estate, Joseph Carr, Josh Cellars, Flirt; France: Andre Lurton, Georges Duboeuf, Hob Nob Vineyards, Patch Block, Pierre Sparr, Sauvion et Fils, Vidal Fleury; Italy: Barone Fini, Castello di Monastero, Coldisole, Poggio alle Sughere, Lionello Marchesi, Villa Pozzi; New Zealand: The Crossings; Portugal: Quinta Do Vale Meao; Spain: Mar De Frades (Rias Baixas), Cruz de Alba (Ribera del Duero), Ramon Bilbao Vinos Y Vinedos (Rioja), and Volteo (Castilla); Chile: Llai Llai; Argentina: Ruta 22; and award-winning spirits from Landy Cognac (France), Luksusowa Vodka (Poland), Adult Chocolate Milk, Adult Limeade, The Original MOONSHINE (USA), Villa Massa (Italy) and Licor 43 (Spain). www.wjdeutsch.com
CONTACT:
Melanie Young, W.J. Deutsch & Sons, Ltd.
Office: 914-251-3294 / Cell: 917-478-5899
Email: Email
Lee Schrager, Vice President, Corporate Communications
Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc.
Office: 305-625-4171
Email: Email
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