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
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/730392
StateWays | www.stateways.com | September/October 2016 12 STRONG AND STEADY GROWTH When North Carolina Gov- ernor Pat McCrory appointed Gardner to the role of Chair- man in February 2013, he did so in spite of the fact that Gardner had no previous ex- perience in the liquor industry. Rather, Gardner brought a plethora of knowledge gained through experience working in business and in the food in- dustry. He previously served as Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of Hardee's Food Systems, Inc., and Vice President of Gardner Dairy Products. Gardner is also a mil- itary veteran, having served in the United States Army. "My entire life outside of politics is in the business in- dustry, and it was a natural fi t with the North Carolina ABC Commission," Gardner says. Indeed, the Raleigh-based ABC Commission is run just like a large business. Operationally, North Carolina is unique in that the agency acts as the single wholesaler in the state, distrib- uting more than 2,200 listed products and more than 2,000 spe- cial orders from two 200,000-square-foot warehouses. However, all retail sales are managed by individual ABC boards. The 425 ABC stores are owned and operated by the local jurisdictions in which they reside. A total of 166 local ABC boards operate the stores and select all liquor sold in the retail stores. The boards are all appointed by county commissioners or city councils, and are integral parts of the communities they serve. At the ABC Commission headquarters, approximately 50 staff members provide support, issue permits and manage vi- olations. The agency also maintains strong partnerships with coalitions and community groups throughout the state, work- ing together to address challenges, collaborate on programming and share resources. GARDNER IS A FIRM BELIEVER IN THE WAY THE AGENCY OPERATES. "When I fi rst arrived in North Carolina, there was lots of talk about privatization," he recalls. "Our system is profi table. It's worked since 1937. And all the money gets put back into the cities, counties and the state. I'm strongly opposed to the idea of privatization. In 'ABC,' the 'C' stands for 'control.' We have the ability to control the dangerous aspects of alcohol abuse, so agency agency profile RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP NORTH CAROLINA IS UNIQUE IN THAT THE AGENCY ACTS AS THE SINGLE WHOLESALER IN THE STATE, DISTRIBUTING MORE THAN 2,200 LISTED PRODUCTS AND MORE THAN 2,000 SPECIAL ORDERS FROM TWO 200,000-SQUARE-FOOT WAREHOUSES. The Raleigh-based ABC Commission is run just like a large business.