Professional Profile

With over ** years in the hospitality and beverage industry, I bring extensive experience managing and consulting for establishments ranging from hotels and fine dining to mixology bars across diverse locations such as Miami and Mexico. My career spans over 8 years in sales and marketing, specifically focusing on ultra-premium luxury, craft, and small-batch wines and spirits. I have a proven track record in distributorship management, new account development, pricing and program negotiation, and crafting customized selling solutions. I excel in executing strategic plans and leading teams to success, demonstrating a positive attitude, attention to detail, and exceptional communication skills. My expertise lies in building enduring business relationships with key accounts and distributors.

Experience

Principal, Elite Luxury Spirits, Marketing & Sales Agency: (2016-now)

Utilize existing relationships to arrange presentation meetings to lead buyers and decision makers with a focus in on premise

- Develop, implement, and achieve annual sales and account sales goals

- Develop, implement, and execute sales programs

- Build and maintain relationships with top accounts

- Conduct sales meetings with distributors/wholesalers

- Act as Territory Manager throughout South Florida

- Attend key trade events

- Expect thorough deep knowledge of the brand from production, history/heritage to sales & marketing plans

Play an integral role in new business pitches and hold responsibility for the effective on-boarding of new clients.

In charge of developing new brands to the market, such as: tequila Tromba, Blackwell rum, Tanteo tequila, Byejoe, Allaire Collection Privee, Lolea sangria and more.

Responsible for establishing a total of 150 accounts (80% on premise and 20% off premise)in a period of three years and increasing sales by a 30%. With a specific focus on my 80 top elite premium and ultra premium accounts.

Continually visit accounts to ensure brand is being best utilized to achieve volume goals.

Effectively develop relationships with regional key clients to meet sales and marketing objectives.

Cultivate appropriate working relationship with spirits producers, importers and distributors.

Maximize the value change and allocate resources A&P across Market/Programs within brand guidelines and ensured budgets are being tracked and controlled.

Help manage importation, distribution and allocation of local premium brand POS inventory and monitor level of investment and ROI of brand activations.

Ensure that the brand/category pricing strategy is being followed. Alert brand of any issues and propose corrective actions.

Facilitate/conduct brand training to account staff & management after sell-in.

Execute all stages of a sales campaign.

Conduct business reviews and provide consistent reports of progress in the territory.

Develop programs with national sales manager to build brand and marketing strategy’s.

Regional Sales Manager: Passion Spirits (2010-2016)

Drove case sales in territory from 100 cases a year to 150 cases a month, achieving sales increase across the state.

Great relationships with all distributors, performing GSM’s and ride alongs with sales consulting and area managers.

Maintain account relationships and generate new account relationships as a key market specialist.

Daily responsibilities to include; product education and presentation to eventuate into sales, scheduling for clients “ride alongs” and introduction to key accounts, consumer event planning & participation, pricing negotiation, new brand launch.

Weekly reporting regarding target sheets, allocation request and implementation, quota reports, monthly focus/blitz updates and track sheets.

Managed a portfolio of 12 different brands at the same time (Blackwell rum, Tanteo tequila, Ambhar tequila etc), with 3 different distributors (SGWS - Breakthru Beverage Group - ParkStreet Imports )

President - Consulting

Created a mixology driven cocktail program that many of the drinks, followed by a spirits program of covering all types of after dinner spirits that generated a 30% increase in check averages.

Responsible for wine and spirits purchasing and maintaining inventories for a wines, spirits and cordials.

Perform schedules, place orders with suppliers, developing great relations with suppliers and bar staff to ensure and innovate with high good and fresh quality product

Created cocktails for Ruskova Vodka which are featured at their Web page.

Proximo Spirits-Three Olives Vodka: Consulting for new cocktails for venues.

Creator of the new beverage and cocktail program for Brasserie Lip restaurant (W Marriott Mexico)

Gluttony Group, Gloutonnerie (Mexico) - La Gloutonnerie -Vintage Kitchen (Miami Beach, Florida) Beverage Director:

Collaborated with colleagues in menu preparation for special events and receptions (South Beach and Mexico) supplier related functions.

Beverage director, responsible for all spirits and wine Purchacing and sales, and forecasted budgeted profit margins, and kept a 18% cost on the entire beverage program, running 500 labels in the wine menu (new and old world), also an extraordinary large but amazing quality and variety of ultra premium spirits and cordials, including non-alcohol items.

Created and developed a mixology driven cocktail program in which many of the cocktails were acclaimed in the press, followed by a spirits program covering all types and a flight program for after- dinner spirits that generated a 30% increase in check averages.

Worked alongside all top wine, champagne and liquor suppliers and distributors to improve pricing structures.

In charge of all wine champagne and liquor, systems set up, manuals, bar book creation and very detail and organized wine menu.

Managed F.O.H operations.

Macaroni Grill: FOH manager, in charge of beverages.

The Cheesecake Factory: FOH manager.

Education

BA in International Business; Under graduate in marketing; wine education courses (miami champagne week, wine cellar management, new and old world wines)

Skills

1. **Sales and Marketing:** Demonstrated success in driving sales and implementing effective marketing strategies for ultra-premium luxury, craft, and small-batch wines and spirits.

2. **Distributorship Management:** Proven track record in managing major distributors, ensuring efficient distribution channels and fostering strong partnerships.

3. **Strategic Planning:** Expertise in developing and executing sales and strategic plans, contributing to the overall growth and success of the brands represented.

4. **Account Development:** Extensive experience in identifying and developing new accounts, expanding market reach, and establishing solid business relationships.

5. **Negotiation Skills:** Proficient in pricing and program negotiation, ensuring favorable terms and agreements for both the company and its partners.

6. **Leadership:** Successful management of teams, providing direction, motivation, and guidance to achieve organizational objectives.

7. **Communication:** Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate ideas and build lasting business relationships with key accounts and distributors.

8. **Detail-Oriented:** Exceptional attention to detail, ensuring accuracy in all aspects of business operations and planning.

9. **Execution at Executive Level:** Proven ability to plan, manage, and execute tasks at an executive level, contributing to the overall success of the organization.

10. **Adaptability:** Ability to adapt to dynamic business environments and industry trends, ensuring a proactive and forward-thinking approach to challenges.

These skills collectively position me as a valuable candidate for the management, Supplier Manager role in Florida.

Awards

Top 12 bartenders in South Florida by The Tasting Panel Magazine in the contest “Give your best shot” by Harlem.

Won the Guinness contest “Perfect Pint”

Winner of multiple sales contest for pisco “Gran Sierpe” and “Chivas 12 and 18 years”.

Mixologist of the month for the state of Florida for “VeeV’s live (05/12).

Recognition from Charles de B Marnier Lapostolle founder and CEO of Kappa Pisco for the “Passion for Kappa” cocktail winner in the food and wine magazine (06/12).

Responsible for the creation of the cocktail “Jorge Pop Her Cherrie” appearing in the press release (Fountain Blue Hotel) for the new Grey Goose flavor Cherrie Noir by Bacardi.

Appearance in a Commercial for channel 19 “The Beach Chanel” for great driven cocktails at La Gloutonnerie (06/12).

Ocean Drive Magazine recognition for great mixology bar using fresh ingredients and remarkable reductio

786-***-****

ad5amq@r.postjobfree.com

1900 N Bayshore Dr

#3505

Miami Florida 33132

GORGE MERUVIA

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