Cover photography by John Montana
12
features Volume 124, No. 6 November/December 2012 18 35
Beverage Dynamics Advertising &
28th Annual
Promotion Awards The best advertising, promotion, packaging and merchandising materials in the beverage alcohol industry today.
departments 12 24 Holiday
Innovation Drives Cognac
By Jack Robertiello By Jack Robertiello
18 A Match Made in
Washington BevMo!, the 124-store California-based chain, is opening stores in the Washington State market.
By Cheryl Ursin
While American brandies see a modest decline, the higher- priced cousin moves up.
Merchandising Our 2012 review of some of the holiday-themed point-of-sale materials and value-added packaging available to retailers this year.
30 Retailer Wine
Selections The Beverage Dynamics National Retailer Wine Panel recommends a lineup of top quality/value wines for the holidays.
By Richard Brandes Beverage Dynamics • www.beveragedynamics.com • November/December 2012 • 3
Editor's Note . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 FYI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Brand Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . .10 On The Shelf . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 Advertisers' Index . . . . . . . . . .54
Beverage Dynamics (USPS-505-810) (ISSN-1523-0392) is published six times per year (January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/October, November/ December) by The Beverage Information Group, a division of M2MEDIA360, 17 High St. 2nd Fl., Norwalk, CT 06851 Periodicals postage paid at Norwalk, CT and additional mailing offices.
Subscriptions: Single copies $8 U.S.; $12 Canada/ Mexico/Foreign Subscription rates: 1 year, $35 U.S.; $50 Canada/Mexico; $75 Foreign. Bulk and foreign air mail subscription rates on request. All subscriptions payable in U.S. dollars. Payment must accompany order. To subscribe write: Beverage Dynamics, P.O. Box 2123, Skokie, IL 60076-7823 or call the Beverage Dynamicscustomer ser- vice number 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST at (847) 763-9565. Customer Service fax (847) 763-9569. Customer Service email beveragedynamics@halldata.com. Customer Service website www.submag.com/sub/bg. © Copyright 2012 by The Beverage Information Group, a division of M2MEDIA360, 17 High St. 2nd Fl., Norwalk, CT 06851. Reproduction without the express written consent of the publisher is prohibited. Not responsible for return of unso- licited materials. The Beverage Information Group publishes Beverage Dynamics, Cheers, StateWays, Wine & Spirits Industry Marketing, Liquor Handbook, Wine Handbook, Beer Handbook, Handbook Advance, and Licensed Beverage Fact Book.
Postmaster: Send address changes to Beverage Dynamics, P.O. Box 2123, Skokie, IL 60076-7823