Feb 10, 2015
Austin, TX
Launch Your Food or Beverage Company the Right Way
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FBU Austin: Andy Stallone, Former Distributor, Teaches Distribution Strategy

Veteran brand manager and sales consultant Andy Stallone has joined the faculty for the BevNET FBU Austin event, which will be held on Feb. 10 at the Brazos Hall in Austin, Texas. Stallone, who has experience as a distributor and supplier of food and beverages and a long history of training sales teams and introducing retailers to new and innovative products, will speak to FBU attendees on the strategies, options, and economics of setting up an initial distribution network.

For entrepreneurs who are starting food and beverage companies, an understanding of the distribution process is the key step in pushing your brand out to consumers. Without distribution, a great product truly goes nowhere, and even self-distributed products must understand rudimentary strategies for dealing with retail accounts. To grow, whether it be through brokerage, DSD, or direct-ship accounts, entrepreneurs will have to master the basics of distribution for their product class.

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Stallone will join a high-powered group of experts and entrepreneurs, including Scott Jensen of Rhythm Superfoods, Bob Burke of Natural Products Consulting Institute, and John Blackington of GBS Growth Partners, during the full-day event, which is designed to give new and growing Food and Beverage Entrepreneurs the knowledge they need to navigate the early challenges to success in the new CPG marketplace.

Early registration ends on Saturday, January 10th, at which point the price of admission will increase by $100/person. Don’t hesitate, register today and save! Please contact Jon Landis at (617) 231-8834 or jlandis@bevnet.com with any questions regarding the event.

About BevNET FBU

FBU is BevNET’s educational platform, a business development series originally known as Beverage School, that it has run for the benefit of new Food & Beverage entrepreneurs and their employees since 2009. BevNET’s track record in providing relevant business development content is evident through its video subscription service at Food & Beverage University (www.BevNETFBU.com), a collection of focused interviews with CPG experts that offer insight into all levels of strategy for food and beverage product entrepreneurs.

About Andy Stallone

As CEO of SAS Sales and Marketing, Andy Stallone provides executive level management and sales expertise to emerging food and beverage brands. This includes brand positioning and launch strategy, business planning, budgeting, pricing & margin analysis, financing, building distribution networks, broker selection and management, sales team oversight, and key account sales calls.

Andy’s background on both the distributor and the supplier side of the business brings a unique and valuable perspective to emerging companies. Andy co-founded Boca Beverage Corp., a start-up distribution company that became the first and ultimately exclusive distributor of Arizona Iced Tea in the state of Florida. Boca Beverage expanded its reach by obtaining master distribution rights for Florida as well as Georgia and Alabama, and by launching many emerging brands including Nantucket Nectars, Fiji Water, Hansen’s Natural and Red Bull. Since selling Boca Beverage Corp., Andy has been instrumental in the successful launch and expansion of several businesses in both the healthy snack and beverage categories:

  • Introduced Odwalla/Fresh Samantha in the Southeast.
  • Involved in the launch of “Shelflink”, an innovative web-based technology company providing a platform for distribution and supply chain management.
  • Oversaw the introduction of Monster Energy Brand on the East Coast.
  • As National Sales Director for New Leaf Brands, managed a nation-wide network of 100+ distributors and was responsible for all DSD, Broker and Direct Warehouse Sales.
  • National and/or regional sales and distribution strategy development and implementation for Onli Sparkling Water, Purity Organic Juice, Bruce Cost Ginger Ale, Trevi Essence Water, and Hi-Ball Energy Drinks among others.
  • Southeast introduction of healthy snack brands Brads Raw Kale Chips, Chimp Food Fruit and Seed Bars and Ginny Bakes Cookies.