Company: BevMo!, Concord, CA
Entry Submitted By: 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: Management Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Executive of the Year - Food & Beverage

Nomination Title: Alan Johnson, CEO

Tell the story about what this nominee 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:

Alan Johnson, CEO of BevMo!, and his team of world class leadership is responsible for expanding the West coast specialty beverage retailer from 62 stores to 115 in just five years. Johnson’s background in strategic planning and growth execution comes from years of working with global brands including PepsiCo, Hoyts (now Regal Cinemas), Disney, The Gap and Price Waterhouse. With an incredible understanding of how to add value and grow a company, Johnson joined BevMo! in 2007. Within one year, Johnson opened a record-breaking 17 stores. Under Johnson’s leadership, BevMo! built the largest, leading alcoholic beverage-lifestyle specialty retailer brands in the western United States.

To drive BevMo!’s growth, in 2011 Johnson made additional strategic hires—including Greg Endom, VP real estate and construction and CMO Francesca Schuler, a marketing professional with over 20 years experience with companies such as The Gap and Treasury Wine Estates. The mission: to revamp the historically quiet marketing department. With an outstanding, world class leadership team in place, BevMo! opened six stores in 2011 and plans to more than double this in 2012.

In February, under Johnson’s leadership, BevMo! announced plans to expand into Washington, opening stores in Tacoma and Silverdale this summer. Bringing BevMo!’s unique product offering and exceptional selection to Washington, the company demonstrates its ability to understand the market and to continue its rapid growth trajectory.

In addition to growth in new markets such as Arizona and Washington, Johnson, with help from his experienced merchants, was responsible for broadening BevMo!’s product offerings by launching Vineyard Partners, an in-house label of high quality wines from some of the most well known wineries in the country. Comprised of wines that are specially blended for the retailer, Vineyard Partners is great value. True to BevMo!’s core, Vineyard Partners sales have grown rapidly, reinforcing the company’s already strong wine business.

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

Using data collected from over 3.5 million BevMo! ClubBev! members, Johnson and his team harness information that is essential to building the brand and growing in new markets. A perfect blend of science and art informs the management team of their next move, combining data learned from existing BevMo! customers with providing a truly unique experience for each new customer that walks in through BevMo!’s front door.

Innovation is paramount for Johnson and his team - BevMo! consistently out-performs the industry in spirits and beer and are generally first to market with the newest liquor or craft beer. Under Johnson’s guidance and with the support of his world class team of experts, from c-level executives to highly trained associates in each store, BevMo! has seen strong, consistent growth over the last years with bottom line sales in the double digits.

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Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the nominee:

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.