Market Watch Honors 2009 Leaders

Market Watch Retailer of the Year Charles Sonnenberg of Frugal MacDoogal

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David Fleming
Posted: September 30, 2009

The top players from all three tiers of the U.S. drinks industry gathered in New York City on September 24th for Market Watch magazine’s 2009 Leaders Awards banquet, which honors the nation’s most accomplished retailers. Charles Sonnenberg, owner of Nashville-based Frugal MacDoogal, was named the Market Watch 2009 “Retailer of the Year.” Sonnenberg, who owns one store in Nashville and two in South Carolina, was greeted with a standing ovation when the choice was announced toward the evening’s close.

At the banquet, held at the glittering St. Regis Roof atop the St. Regis Hotel, Market Watch also inducted five new Leaders: Jay Wilson, vice president of wine and spirits at Hy-Vee Inc., the 225-store Midwestern grocery chain with $350 million in annual beverage alcohol sales; Michael Cimini, the Massachusetts mega-retailer with three stores and $30 million in sales;  Mark O’Callaghan, whose Exit 9 Wine & Liquor Warehouse in upstate New York launched only eight years ago and does $13 million in annual sales;  Brad Rider, president and CEO of United Package Liquors, the 24-store, Indianapolis-based chain with $25 million in annual sales, whose owner Leon Riggs is also a Leader; and Gary Stewart, owner of Cellars Wine & Spirits Warehouse in Aventura, Florida, which does $2 million in annual sales and is renowned for its product selection and customer service.

Market Watch also honored four past Leaders with its Leaders Alumni Awards. Lock Reddic of Green’s Discount Beverage Stores in South Carolina and Georgia won the honor for Best Advertising. Husband-and-wife Leaders David and Judy Breitstein of Duke of Bourbon in Canoga Park, California took home the Best Merchandising Award. The honor for Best Web Site went to Steve Zanotti of Wine Exchange in Orange, California. Ruth Bassin of Washington, D.C.-based Addy Bassin’s MacArthur Liquors received the Community Service Award.

The Leaders Choice Awards, which are voted on by all Market Watch Leaders, honored the year’s most successful brands and its outstanding executive. John Esposito, President and CEO of Bacardi USA, was named Industry Executive of the Year. Diageo USA’s Crown Royal captured the prize for Spirits Brand of the Year, while Ménage à Trois from Trinchero Family Estates took home the honor for Wine Brand of the Year. Anheuser-Busch InBev’s Stella Artois was named Beer Brand of the Year.

In the Leader’s Choice honors for Best New Product, Skyy Spirits LLC’s Skyy Infusions won in the spirits category, while E&J Gallo’s Ghost Pines brand took the award in wine. MGD 64 from MillerCoors was named best new beer product.