Press Release Details

- Adds 12 new U.S. markets for a total of 33 markets -

MIAMI & DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (“Southern Glazer’s”)—the largest North American wine and spirits distribution company—announced today that it has expanded distribution agreements with Mionetto USA (Mionetto), a leading importer of premier wines, to 12 additional markets in the U.S. With this expansion, Southern Glazer’s will now distribute Mionetto’s portfolio of wines in 33 U.S. markets, making Mionetto a strategic national partner across many important sparkling wine categories. Prior to this expansion, Southern Glazer’s distributed Mionetto’s wine brands in 21 U.S. markets. The agreements are effective immediately.

“Our expanded partnership will enable Southern Glazer’s to cover more than 70 percent of Mionetto’s U.S. business,” said Mel Dick, Senior Vice President, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits and President of the Company’s Wine Division. “This will allow us to more effectively and efficiently align plans and priorities and drive accelerated growth for Mionetto’s world-class wine brands.”

“The sparkling wine category continues to see outstanding domestic growth, so we are excited to take advantage of this opportunity and to work with Mionetto across a significantly larger network in the U.S.,” added Steve Slater, Executive Vice President, General Manager, Wine Division, Southern Glazer’s. “In addition, this national alignment delivers Mionetto tremendous additional value through our National Accounts team in both the on- and off-premise, and industry-leading analytics and reporting tools.”

Mionetto USA was founded in 1997. It began with the introduction of the Mionetto family's portfolio of fine sparkling wines to the United States, with the mission of establishing the Prosecco category. Mionetto USA has since grown to become the importer for one of the leading Prosecco brands and ranks among the fastest growing premier wine importing companies in the United States. Brands in their world-class portfolio include Mionetto, Livio Felluga, Castello Monsanto, Alfred Gratien, Gratien & Meyer, Capezzana, Schloss Johannisberg, and Henkell.

Dr. Andreas Brokemper, CEO of Henkell & Co. Gruppe, said “Mionetto USA has been the front runner of Prosecco’s category development for over 20 years and the compatibility with Southern Glazer’s makes us confident in selecting them as our strategic partner. Southern Glazer’s national resources combined with Mionetto USA/Henkell Gruppe’s Marketing expertise and brand building of sparkling wines, will increase effectiveness and accelerate growth with greater opportunities across multiple channels.”

“Freshness is vital for Prosecco and Mionetto is mindful of this at every step of the production process. It’s encompasses the brand’s pillars: Quality, Taste, Heritage, and Style,” added Enore Ceola, CEO and Managing Director, Mionetto USA. “The decision to consolidate our business with Southern Glazer’s will strengthen and streamline our route to market ensuring consistent delivery of the freshest and greatest quality of Mionetto. It will also enable proper education and training on the category and brand.”

The expansion gives Mionetto USA access to Southern Glazer’s unmatched National Accounts reach and coverage. Southern Glazer’s National Account structure covers as much as 95 percent of its retail customers’ operating units. The National Accounts team is supported by a dedicated Business Intelligence Center of Excellence that provides customers and suppliers with the largest data set in the industry, including shopper marketing trends, retailer insights, and trade business intelligence.

The new markets included in this expansion are: the District of Columbia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Texas.

About Mionetto USA

Mionetto USA, the United States subsidiary of Henkell & Co. Gruppe, was founded in 1997. Mionetto USA began with the introduction of the Mionetto family's portfolio of fine sparkling wines to the United States, with the mission of establishing the Prosecco category. Mionetto USA has grown to become the importer for one of the leading Prosecco brands and ranks among the fastest growing premier wine importing companies in the United States.

About Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits

Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is North America’s largest wine and spirits distributor, and the preeminent data insights company for alcoholic beverages. The Company has operations in 44 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, Canada, and the Caribbean, and employs more than 20,000 team members. Southern Glazer’s urges all retail customers and adult consumers to market, sell, serve, and enjoy its products responsibly. For more information visit www.southernglazers.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @sgwinespirits and on Facebook at Facebook.com/SouthernGlazers.