Buyers sample the products that are leading the industry with ground-breaking marketing visions, flavors and innovation. For each of the beer, wine and spirits categories, a gold and silver medalist will be awarded for the following criteria:
Best Marketing Vision: Criteria includes the products that establish excellence in retail shelf presence: store displays, POS, shelf presence.
Best Packaging: Criteria includes physical features of glasswork, labels, artwork – first impression from the eyes.
Overall Grand Tasting Winner: Criteria is strictly related to tasting: flavor innovation, taste/palate impression.
Much time has been spent carefully selecting the judges who can best evaluate these products. The following industry experts will sample and vote for their favorite product in their respective categories:
Beer Judge: John Deichler, Category Manager - Alcoholic Beverages at Murphy USA
Wine Judge: Adam Salzwedel, Own Brand Lead - Beverage at Meijer, Inc.
Spirits Judge: Matt Colglazier, Vice President of Marketing & Merchandising at Big Red Liquours, Inc.