Stephen Ross Email & Phone Number

United States

Responsible for the sales and development of Aveniu Brands wine and spirit portfolio of products in the retail chain accounts for the Western US. Create and introduce company brand programs and strategies to national and regional retail chain accounts as well as communicate and organize chain authorizations, pricing and promotions in conjunction with regional managers. Call on Safeway, Costco, CPWM, Sprouts, Target and Trader Joes nationally as well as regional chain accounts at headquarters in conjunction with the Zone Directors, distributor managers or independently.

California

Responsible for the sales and development of Banfi Vintners' and Excelsior Wine Sales' portfolios of products in the retail chain accounts in designated regions. Create and introduce company brand programs and strategies to regional retail chain accounts as well as communicate and organize regional chain authorizations, pricing and promotions in conjunction with district and regional managers. Call on national, regional chain accounts at headquarters and locally in conjunction with the National Retail Director, distributor managers or independently while dividing time between sales calls, market surveys, and local trade involvement to include training; wholesaler concentration (in market or at wholesaler); analyzing chain sales/IRI data, administrative, planning and follow-up.

Duties include managing regional distributor Vice Presidents (SWS, YMCO and Wertz) as well as Account Executives to attain company goals. Accountable for coordinating all chain market activities through Northern California and Southern California Chain Vice Presidents, conducting monthly meetings to communicate programming opportunities and previous month’s depletions along with managing chain scan budget for CA, HI and NV. Provide weekly communication with executives to determine scan and display programming while promoting ad activity through programming and incentives. Communicate company brand directives, national programs, case goals, new item initiatives and pricing. Adopt, implement and execute the Banfi sales process, manage and develop wholesalers’ capabilities to adopt and implement Banfi’s brand strategies and objectives. Develop, track and maximize distributor display activity within market. Call on corporate buyers for retail chain accounts in conjunction with the distributor sales force or independently.

Responsible for the development of Banfi Vintners’ brands in the California chains. Manage store level execution of chain shelf and cold box distribution, schematic improvements in the field and floor display efforts of the California distributor. Responsible for driving incremental volume into all major grocery/drug/club chains in the market. Work with distributor chain merchandising district managers and merchandisers to ensure maximum shelf and floor positioning while developing strong relationships with liquor department managers, district managers and store directors. Work closely with distributor management and key retail customers to ensure a high level of customer satisfaction and knowledge of Banfi Vintners brands and promotions while ensuring timely and flawless execution of programs by working closely with the chain sales teams, distributor management and key retail customers. Conducted monthly to bi-monthly chain team meetings to educate, taste and inform chain sales representatives of all upcoming promotions/programs.

Responsible for increasing the volume and distribution within the Santa Ana/Tustin territory while attaining company goals and cultivating new accounts. Other responsibilities included wine seminars, staff training, wine list, wine/spirit seminars in various restaurants throughout the territory.Key Achievement:• Increased the overall territory volume from $750,000 per year to 1.5 million and made it the #4 territory on the team behind Newport Beach, Laguna and Costa Mesa.

Responsible for the training and education of six territory managers in the distribution and brand management practices of distilled spirits, wines, beer and non-alcoholic beverages. Duties included daily and weekly reports to corporate and working with store and chain district managers to create incentive packages and contests.