Prichard's Distillery Launched By Liquor Group Michigan

Novi MI –Liquor Group Wholesale, Inc. (LIQR) and its’ state level brokerage affiliate Liquor Group Michigan have recently launched the Prichard's Distillery line of Tennessee Rums, Liqueurs and Bourbon Whiskey in the nation's largest Control State market.  Steve Dodge, VP of Liquor Group Wholesale noted that Prichard's products have won numerous awards and are widely recognized for their outstanding quality.  "These products prove that the US can easily compete with Caribbean and South American rums in taste, price and quality; and of course domestically we have always been known for our fine whiskeys." said Dodge.

The family run Prichard's Distillery is located in the small town of Kelso, TN and since 1997 has been producing and expanding a line of rums including Crystal Rum, Fine Rum, Cranberry Rum, Key Lime Rum and Sweet Georgia Belle, a Peach and Mango flavored Rum Liqueur.  More recently Prichard has turned his attention to Whiskeys, with the addition of Double Barrel Bourbon Whiskey, Sweet Lucy (an Apricot-Orange Whiskey based Liqueur) and a soon to be available an award winning Single Malt Whiskey.  For more information regarding the Prichard's Distillery line of products visit their website at http://www.PrichardsDistillery.com

Liquor Group Illinois Acquisition Exceeds Expectations

(The news story below was featured on the world famous NASDAQ Headquarters Building in Manhattan)

June 23, 2010 – Chicago, IL – Liquor Group Wholesale, Inc (LIQR) is pleased to announce to shareholders that the investment made into Liquor Group Illinois has significantly exceeded early expectations.  Since the re-branding of this recently-acquired statewide alcohol distribution operation through a publicly announced stock vesting acquisition strategy in October 2009, LIQR has added more than 300 new spirit and wine products to the Liquor Group Illinois distribution portfolio, and has delivered more than $1,000,000 worth of product in the past sixty days alone.  This is only the second of 32 such planned acquisitions for LIQR. 

"We anticipated strong interest in our products, several hundred of which are now available in the Illinois market for the first time…" said C.J. Eiras, CEO "…the Illinois sales force has done an outstanding job, requiring many suppliers to send multiple inventory restocking deliveries over this very short period." 

Many of the thousands of products represented by Liquor Group are competitors to mainstream brands from Diageo (NYSE:DEO), Pernod Ricard (ADR:PDRDF), Brown Foreman (NYSE:BF/A), Fortune Brands (NASDAQ:FO) and Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ), however they reach a different audience and consumer, either through alternative marketing, selection due to ethnic tradition or by packaging or taste preference.     

Liquor Group Wholesale VP & Product Manager Lowell Newman anticipates that dozens of additional new product will be introduced to the Liquor Group Illinois portfolio within the next month, a development that is sure to help extend the blistering sales pace throughout the summer.  “The systematic operational strategy is not to overwhelm the sales force with too many new products at one time…” says Newman “…rather we prefer that our reps understand fully the products being presented, so they can embrace the knowledge, educate their licensed customer base, whom will eventually assist the end user consumer in their decision making process at the cash register.”

Liquor Group Illinois is rapidly expanding; a well seasoned team of 15 sales representatives headed by Director Alex Chudnovsky, with Sales Manager Vadim Klugman and Marketing Manager Yuri Zamostin assuring a sales representation presence throughout the state.  “It has been an amazing experience…” says Chudnovsky, who’s distribution company was purchased by LIQR in October of 2009 “…the systems, technology and unique methodology that is utilized by Liquor Group in every facet of the operation facilitates sales, grows our business and drives our profits.  After years of trying it ourselves we now realize that we could not have grown and thrived like we have in this tough market without being part of Liquor Group.”

Liquor Group Sponsors Film Florida 5th Annual Legends Awards

Jacksonville, FL — Film Legends Belton Clark, Jerry Smith, and Richard Norman (posthumous) were honored as the 2010 Film Florida Legend Awards.  The event was held at the WJCT Television Studios downtown as crowds enjoyed exclusive Liquor Group crowd pleasers such as Ocean Vodka, Fat Ass Tequila, Columbus Rum, Rhythm Liqueur and Happy Rum.  Chefs from the Art Institute Culinary Academy served up gourmet dishes to the crowd, while a jazz band toiled the night away with soothing tunes from a bygone era.

The Legend award, which was launched in 2006, honors Sunshine State pioneers in the film, television and production industry.  The recipients this year have made major contributions to the industry, including:

Belton Clark’s 40 year career as a prolific film distributor continues to flourish, with releases as recently as the academy award winning film Inglourious Basterds.  The Florida-based Clark Film Co. has handled releases including Pulp Fiction, Shakespeare in Love, Kill Bill, Good Will Hunting, The English Patient, Sling Blade, Bridget Jones Diary, My Left Foot, Stanley among many others, including the upcoming release of this summer’s Pirhana 3D.

Jerry Smith has worked for over 35 years as an internationally recognized writer, producer, and director of lifestyle television programs, TV commercials, corporate communications and online content, specialized in the design and execution of Emmy award-winning content for cable TV networks, PBS and syndication for Post-Newsweek, Hearst-Argyle Television, Scripps Networks, PBS, Discovery Networks, CBN, Home and Garden Television Network (HGTV), Fine Living, Food Network plus ABC, NBC and CBS-Owned Television Stations. His series Great Hotels, Passport to Europe, Passport to Latin America, Girl Meets Hawaii, and Great Vacation Homes have played to as many as 400 million households in just one day. Under Smith, PineRidge Studios has been the recipient of six national Emmy awards and 11 nominations.

Richard Edward Norman (1891-1960) began his film production career in 1912, settling in Jacksonville at the height of the town’s heyday as the “Winter Film Capitol of the World” and began making full-length feature films. His first, The Green Eyed Monster (1916) was an all-white drama weaving love and deceit in the railroad industry. As the movie industry’s first black filmmakers, including Oscar Micheaux and the Lincoln Motion Picture Company, were creating a stir, producing films made with all-black casts in non-stereotypical roles, Norman, who was white, saw a largely untapped business market among black filmgoers and talent. His films included Regeneration (1923) starring Stella Mayo of the famed Mayo Family Magicians; Black Gold (1928), a greed- and love-fueled story surrounding the oil business; and The Flying Ace (1926), Norman’s most celebrated film was restored and housed at the Library of Congress.  Norman’s five-building silent film studio complex still stands in the heart of Jacksonville’s historic Old Arlington neighborhood.

Liquor Group Hosts VIP Party at One Ocean Resort & Spa for Film Florida Legends Awards

Atlantic Beach, FL — The Film Florida Legend Awards draws producers, directors, actors and entertainment industry members from all parts of the world, and this year the crowds enjoyed exclusive Liquor Group crowd pleasers such as Ocean Vodka, Deleon Tequila and Rhythm Liqueur in the swanky tropical setting of the five star rated One Ocean Resort & Spa directly on the ocean in secluded Atlantic Beach, Florida.  

“Ocean Vodka has long been a staple product for this resort...” said Lowell Newman, VP of Liquor Group “…since the property opened it’s doors several years ago, we have placed the organic Ocean Vodka as their house brand, which demonstrates the level of commitment to quality that this resort has for its patrons.”

The resort staff served up amazing food to the crowd, while the DJ spun a blend of acid jazz and Motown rhythms.  The night wound down as party-goers prepared for the Award gala the following day.

When there’s blood in the streets…BUY Liquor!

June 7, 2010 – Jacksonville, FL – Liquor Group Wholesale (Publicly Traded: LIQR) announced to shareholders a tentative deal for the acquisition of several key privately owned Alcohol Distribution Companies within their existing distribution network. “Part of the unique opportunity we have before us our ability to acquire private distribution operations that we already do business with in as many as 30 markets on a stock-only vesting basis…” says C. J. Eiras, CEO “…this makes our acquisition shopping list relatively easy to outline.” The remaining process includes licensing and contractual documentation however the parties have agreed in principle to the acquisitions.

In 2009, the company made two such acquisitions on a 20% per annum vesting agreement: one is a statewide Alcohol Distribution company (nka Liquor Group Illinois) the other is a statewide Alcohol Brokerage Company (nka Liquor Group Iowa). These vesting agreements have already proven to be profitable and successful; together adding roughly $3M of asset value for shareholders during their first year of operations under the Liquor Group banner.

In related news, Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK/A) recently began acquiring Alcohol Distribution companies through their McLane Unit; starting by gobbling up two mid-sized operations in the US as part of their overall acquisition strategy within the industry. “Warren Buffet just put Berkshire’s money into the acquisition of Alcohol Distribution companies, perhaps it is a good investment strategy.” says C. J. Eiras.

Liquor Group’s successful innovative approach to the liquor and wine distribution industry has been a key element in its organic growth and has proven to be a key component in the development of many mid sized, small and emerging alcohol brands. Liquor Group’s corporate model and culture now finds success with larger, better known brands creating the opportunity for expansion into additional states and markets. Liquor Group’s ideology and business model offer brands versatility, bandwidth and flexibility needed to flourish in this multi-hundred billion dollar market.