Company: BevMo!, Concord, CA
Company Division/Group: Finn Partners
Company Description: Satisfying customers since 1994, BevMo! is the ultimate specialty beverage retailer where beverage lovers can discover the best quality wines, spirits and beers, at great prices. BevMo! makes shopping convenient, comfortable and fun. BevMo!’s knowledgeable, dedicated and welcoming team of experts can assist both enthusiasts and first-time buyers of wine, spirits and beer to discover something new.
Nomination Category: Company / Organization Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Company of the Year - Food & Beverage

Nomination Title: BevMo!

Tell the story about what this nominated organization achieved since January 1 2011 (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

Founded in 1994, BevMo! is the leading specialty beverage retailer in the western U.S. and among the largest in the country. BevMo! provides a uniquely friendly and welcoming environment for competitively priced wine, beer, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages. BevMo! also offers specialty foods and snacks, cigars, and glassware.

Since 1994, BevMo! has consistently shown growth, opening 62 stores in 12 years.

Despite a downturn in the economy, BevMo! grew 85 percent from 2006 to 2011, opening 53 stores and securing its position as a leader in the specialty beverage business. BevMo! is recession resilient and in 2011 alone, added six new stores in Menlo Park, Ventura, East Pasadena, San Ramon, Camarillo and San Jose. BevMo! now includes 115 stores across California, Arizona, with further expansion to Washington this summer.

While 2011 was a difficult year for many companies, BevMo! continued to grow. Its proven model and bull-dog determination to grow enabled BevMo! to build up the pipeline for 12-15 new stores in 2012, continue to grow in markets they already dominate, and increase their bottom line by 15% over the previous year.

In 2011, BevMo! rounded out its new world-class management team with the strategic additions of Greg Endom, Vice President real estate and construction, and CMO Francesca Schuler, a marketing professional with over 20 years experience. With the new leadership team’s experience, BevMo! is confident in its ability to grow from 115 stores to well over 500 stores.

In 2011 BevMo! not only invested in its leadership team, but in a new inventory, planning and allocations team, a new marketing team, and a new POS system for stores. BevMo! didn’t stop there. It also invested in better associate communication to receive feedback in real time from their employees on the ground. 94.7 percent of the associates participated in the survey, which BevMo! attributes to their passion.

BevMo! has had great success with their private label wines called Vineyard Partners. The portfolio was expanded in 2011 to include over 100 brands and 257 varietals. The wines are made by some of the finest wineries in the country, exclusively for BevMo!. Vineyard Partners wines are great quality, great tasting, and an excellent value. Customers embrace them, and due to their popularity, they have become a significant part of the wine mix.

BevMo!, a beverage industry innovator, consistently out-performs competitors in spirits and beer selection and is first to market with the newest liquor or beer. Well-known distillers such as Jack Daniels consistently approach BevMo! before anyone else to sample and sell their new flavors, knowing BevMo!’s easy-to-work with style, legacy of innovation and knowledgeable staff will always deliver the best experience to customers.

Such consistent and positive performance attracts a loyal following, with 95% of sales in 2011 attributed to BevMo!’s ClubBev members. Where many retailers have fickle customers, BevMo! boasts an incredibly high retention rate with its customers, and an even better one with its employees. Above all, BevMo! inspires passion in its people – customers, employees and partners.

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Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the leader of this nominated organization:

Alan Johnson, CEO of BevMo!, joined the company in May 2007. Since then Mr. Johnson grew the company from 62 stores to 115 stores. He thrives on launching and running rapid growth businesses, and has held senior positions with iconic companies like PepsiCo, Hoyts, The Walt Disney Company, The Gap and Price Waterhouse. His 30-year career in “eatertainment” has taken him around the world, from Africa to Australia, Eastern Europe and the U.S., leaving landmarks where ever he goes. Alan helped pioneer the development of PepsiCo’s 3-in-1 Pizza Hut, KFC and Taco Bell concept in Europe, and opened the first state of the art luxury stadium movie megaplex on the East Coast of the U.S.