The National Beer Wholesalers Association is offering an encore of sorts of the popular brewers and importers executive panel it hosted at last year's convention. For the second year in a row, NBWA members will hear from the U.S. leaders of five breweries and importers who will appear together, all on one stage, during the general session of this year's convention on Tuesday morning, Oct. 1 at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. Participants include:
· Sam Calagione, president, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
· Luiz Edmond, president North America, Anheuser-Busch
· Bill Hackett, president, Crown Imports LLC
· Tom Long, president, MillerCoors LLC
· Dolf van den Brink, president and CEO, HEINEKEN USA
These leaders will share their views on issues facing the beer industry and discuss the strengths of the American beer distribution system. They also will answer some of the NBWA membership’s most burning questions.
“We are excited to once again have this distinguished group on one stage for candid conversation and a discussion of this great system, which works so well for so many,” said NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser.
Much has changed for Anheuser-Busch and Crown since last year's session. AB InBev's acquisition of Modelo resulted in Crown becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Constellation Brands—which previously co-owned Crown in a JV with Modelo—and Crown got a brewery in Piedras Negras, Mexico in the process. Hackett and Edmond will likely have a few insights to share with attendees.
