Stateways

Stateways Sept-Oct 2013

StateWays is the only magazine exclusively covering the control state system within the beverage alcohol industry, with annual updates from liquor control commissions and alcohol control boards and yearly fiscal reporting from control jurisdictions

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E D I T O R ' S N O T E StateWays ® Executive Vice President The Latest News from the Control States F and Group Publisher Charles Forman Tel: 845-426-6072 Fax: 845-426-6423 or the past 14 years, StateWays has been presenting its Control States Executive Forum, commentaries from the top officials at control jurisdictions across the U.S., describing key issues and developments that have affected their operations over the past year. This feature (beginning on page 8) has proven to be one of the most popular that we publish during the year, for it gives all interested readers an overview of the actual initiatives and various programs that are underway in each of the control jurisdictions. These commentaries continue to reflect the undeniable fact that the control states are being run as modern-day businesses on a variety of fronts. As I write in the introduction to the Executive Forum, "Based on these reports, sales revenues among the control states have once again almost universally increased, and a wide range of responsibility initiatives continue to progress. At the same time, the control states are using best business practices to create more time- and money-saving efficiencies across all elements of their businesses, from back-office to warehouses to retail outlets. The officials also touch on a variety of modernization initiatives, including the upgrading of POS and security systems, redesigning and enhancing retail merchandising programs, updating online ordering systems for licensees and developing new technologies for increasing compliance with agency regulations. We also learn about the latest legislative changes that several control state agencies have had to put into action, as well as a wide range of ongoing enforcement efforts and newer legal initiatives. These state snapshots also note important personnel changes within the agencies, as well as provide outlines of the overall environment, accomplishments and challenges in these separate control jurisdictions." Some particulars include: the latest efforts to upgrade retail stores at the Idaho State Liquor Division, featuring new staff training, better lighting, shelf optimization programs, new merchandising policies, and other positive changes. The Iowa Alcoholic Beverage division has introduced new technology to improve inventory management and warehouse productivity. In Michigan, the Liquor Control Commission has simplified and shortened the licensing process. And in Maryland, Montgomery County's Department of Liquor Control is proud of its new 210,000-square-foot warehouse, which is totally climate-controlled. The New Hampshire Liquor Commission has continued with its program of refurbishing and relocating retail outlets and is looking forward to opening up a new 240,000-square-foot warehouse facility, while the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission reports that its ABC Boards spent more than $9 million in the last fiscal year on alcohol education efforts. For its part, the Ohio Division of Liquor Control is touting a new project to upgrade its computer and POS systems. And the largest control state, Pennsylvania, notes the continuing expansion of its Fine Wine & Good Spirits rebranding initiative. These are just a few of the activities mentioned in the Executive Forum. We'd once again like to thank the control state commissioners, chairpersons, administrators and other officials who took time out from their busy schedules to provide this information for us…and you. email: cforman@specialtyim.com Editor- in-Chief Richard Brandes Tel: 212-353-3832 rbrandes@specialtyim.com Art Director Adam Lane Contributing Editor Melissa Niksic Vice President of Sales, Associate Publisher Anthony Bongiovanni tbongiovanni@specialtyim.com Senior Regional Sales Manager Mark Marcon mmarcon@specialtyim.com Senior Regional Sales Manager Debbie Rittenberg drittenberg@specialtyim.com Senior Research Analyst Adam Rogers List Rental Manager Cheryl Naughton cnaughton@specialtyim.com StateWays is published by The Beverage Information Group, a division of Specialty Information Media Editorial and executive offices are at 17 High St., 2nd Fl., Norwalk, CT 06851 Telephone: (203) 855-8499 Fax: (203) 855-9446 e-mail: Richard Brandes, Editor-in-Chief 4 rbrandes@specialtyim.com StateWays I www.stateways.com I September/October 2013

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