Constellation Brands Chief Global Sales Officer to Deliver Keynote Address at ABL Annual Meeting

DECEMBER 13, 2018 | BETHESDA, MD – American Beverage Licensees (ABL), is pleased to announce that Kevin Cooke, Chief Global Sales Officer – Wine & Spirits Division at Constellation Brands, will deliver the keynote address at the upcoming ABL Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 24-26, 2019. During his keynote address, Cooke will discuss Constellation’s continued growth and the company’s future plans for its expansive portfolio that now includes an interest in the burgeoning cannabis market.

Constellation Brands, a top-performing Fortune 500® and leading Total Beverage Alcohol company, produces beer, wine and spirits found in nearly every bar, restaurant, tavern and package store across the country. In addition to wine and spirits, Constellation Brands is the largest beer importer in the U.S. by sales and has expanded its portfolio earlier this year with its $4 billion investment in Canopy Growth, an Ontario, Canada-based cannabis company.

“With a diverse portfolio that includes brands such as Corona, Modelo, Clos du Bois, Meiomi, Ruffino, Svedka and High West Distillery, nearly every ABL member has an existing business relationship with Constellation Brands,” said ABL Executive Director John Bodnovich. “We look forward to welcoming Kevin as a keynote speaker and hearing his perspective on the direction of the industry and what Constellation’s entry into the cannabis marketplace means for the beverage alcohol industry.”

In his role as Chief Global Sales Officer – Wine & Spirits Division, Cooke is responsible for leading Constellation’s Wine and Spirits sales goals. He manages a high performing group of leaders in Spirits, Fine Wine, Core Wine, Strategic Accounts, Sales Enablement and Sales Strategy. In his role, he leads a talented team of Constellation sales professionals across multiple channels.

Cooke joined Constellation in May 2016 as Senior Vice President – Sales Strategy & Transformation, with a focus on integrating world class account management planning and enhancing Constellation’s Route to Market. He has over thirty years of experience in all sectors of the total alcohol beverage industry.

REGISTER NOW! Registration is available online for $299, which includes access to all general sessions and ABL hospitality events + a COMPLIMENTARY 2-day pass to the Nightclub & Bar Show 2019 (Valued at $499). Click here to view 2019 ABL Annual Meeting schedule of events. For more information on ABL or the annual meeting, please visit www.ablusa.org.

BOOK TODAY: ABL has secured room block for the 2019 ABL Annual Meeting at Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. Please note that room availability at the reduced ABL costs (Saturday, March 23: $120.00 + $35.00 daily resort fee + applicable taxes/fees | Sunday, March 24 – Tuesday, March 26: $85.00 + $35.00 daily resort fee + applicable taxes/fees) is on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the room block is filled, ABL is unable to guarantee rates and availability. As such, we encourage attendees you to reach out to your members and remind them to book now!

*****

American Beverage Licensees is the preeminent national trade association for beverage alcohol retailers. Direct retail beverage alcohol sales in the United States generate as many as 1.94 million well-paying jobs. ABL’s thousands of on-premise and off-premise licensee members are independent and often family-owned establishments.  The beverage retailing industry pays over $25.3 billion in federal taxes and $18.36 billion in state and local taxes. To learn more about ABL, please visit www.ablusa.org.