HEINEKEN USA announced that Crescent Crown Distributing of Surprise, Ariz., has received the organization’s Red Star Award for its efforts in driving the success of the HEINEKEN USA portfolio at the company’s annual National Distributor Conference in Atlanta, Ga. last week.
Crescent Crown was honored for its execution that crossed portfolio lines and results that exceeded industry standards. In a year where the industry was declining overall, the Red Star Award winner grew the HEINEKEN USA business 7.8% in 2011, led by Heineken Lager, Newcastle Brown Ale, Dos Equis, Tecate and Tecate Light. They also achieved 25% growth in incremental cases of Dos Equis and the largest volume increase of Tecate Light in the U.S.
In line with HEINEKEN USA’s new on-premise strategy, Crescent Crown also added 50 new handles in “Better Beer” accounts in the Phoenix market and increased draught volume 16.9%.
“Each year, we present the Red Star award to honor a distributor partner who delivers the highest levels of support into our mutual business,” said Scott Blazek, senior vice president of sales for HEINEKEN USA. “From broad investments in the portfolio to incremental work both on premise and off, our partners’ efforts are essential in driving success. Last year, Crescent Crown showed that they are not afraid to invest in our portfolio, and the results for both parties have been tremendous.”
In addition to the Red Star Award, HEINEKEN USA recognized the performance of distributors across its portfolio with Star Performer Awards for their efforts in accelerating volume growth and distribution of the company’s Mexican, Dutch and English brands. The honorees were evaluated for their performance against distributors of a similar size.
“The Crescent Crown Team strives to perform as a nationally recognized leader and execute as the best distributor in our respective markets each and every day. To be recognized for that by a ‘World Class’ partner like Heineken USA as their top performing distributor is a huge honor for all of us,” said James R. Moffett, Jr., president of Crescent Crown Distributing. “We appreciate the value that Heineken USA’s portfolio and insight brings to our business and we’re eager to build on this momentum going into 2012.”
The Star Performer Award winners for the Dutch Portfolio (Heineken, Heineken Light and Amstel Light) included Paradise Beverages, Classic Distributing & Beverage and Kent Beverage Co., and for the Mexican Portfolio (Dos Equis, Tecate, Sol, Bohemia and Carta Blanca), Finley Distributing Co., Paradise Beverages and Try-It Distributing Company. Newcastle Brown Ale winners included DBI Beverage Sacramento, Premium Distributors of VA and Carlson Distributing Co.
