Top Shelf Integrity

Christina Kollereb is the Director of On-Premise Consumer Marketing at Beam Suntory for North America, and she is joined by the Director of Shopper Insights at Beam Suntory, James Melucci. In today’s conversation, they discuss the creative ways Beam Suntory helps their clients better understand what consumers are looking for from on-premise sites.

Today on Top Shelf Integrity:

• Why consumer insights are so valuable for strategy
• Beam Suntory’s process for gathering consumer insights
• Menu engineering: using data & creating ‘test and learn’ environments
• What determines quality consumer insights
• How inflation affects consumer awareness

Follow Beam Suntory:

• Website: beamsuntory.com
• Instagram: @beamsuntory

Follow Rachel:

• Instagram: @rachelsharris_ 
• LinkedIn: Rachel Harris

This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

Rachel Harris is the Vice President of On-Premise in the United States at Beam-Suntory, and Hiro Hayakawa is the Director of On-Premise Center of Excellence in the United States. Today, Rachel and Hiro talk about the role of On-Premise Portfolio Managers in scaling the On-Premise and their approach to building demand with their portfolio of brands.

Today on Top Shelf Integrity:

• The role of On-Premise Portfolio managers
• How OPPMs play a key role in building demand & scaling business
• How to be a successful OPPM
• Infusing Japanese concepts into management
• The value in having OPPMs as internal employees

Follow Beam Suntory:

• Website: beamsuntory.com
• Instagram: @beamsuntory

Follow Rachel:

• Instagram: @rachelsharris_ 
• LinkedIn: Rachel Harris

This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

Rachel Harris is the Vice President of On-Premise in the United States at Beam-Suntory, and she is joined by the Senior National Account Manager for Hotels at Beam-Suntory USA, Lisa Nelson. In today’s conversation, they discuss where the hotel channel was before and during the pandemic and how it survived as the hardest hit sub-channel during COVID, along with what consumers can expect for the future of their hotel experiences.

Today on Top Shelf Integrity:

• The impact of the pandemic on the hotel channel
• How to support the unique demands of the hotel channel
• How the customer experience of the hotel channel has changed
• The future of the hotel channel

Follow Beam Suntory:

• Website: beamsuntory.com
• Instagram: @beamsuntory

Follow Rachel:

• Instagram: @rachelsharris_ 
• LinkedIn: Rachel Harris

This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

Kathleen DiBenedetto is the Senior Director of Seed Brands, and she is joined by Atsushi “Charlie” Takeuchi whose expertise is the Whisky Highball. Charlie shares his journey in building the highball business from the ground up in the U.S. after his successful experience in Japan with the Highball Machine. Kathleen talks about building Sipsmith as a high opportunity brand in the U.S, and together they discuss the challenges, opportunities, and insights from their time in this business.

Today on Top Shelf Integrity:

• The Whisky Highball’s history and success in Japan
• Challenges & opportunities in growing the Highball in the states
• Building trust & exceeding the consumer’s expectations
• Customizing a brand to fit a culture

Follow Beam Suntory:

• Website: beamsuntory.com
• Instagram: @beamsuntory

Follow Rachel:

• Instagram: @rachelsharris_ 
• LinkedIn: Rachel Harris

This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

VP of On-Premise USA at Beam Suntory, Rachel Harris, is joined by Paula Erickson, SVP, Global, Chief Human Resources Officer, Beam Suntory. In today’s conversation from the video series “Proof You Can,” Rachel and Paula dive into why self-awareness is crucial to your success as a leader. They unpack the importance of listening to your employees' concerns and ways to gather their feedback to create meaningful action. 

Watch the full episode on Rachel Harris's Instagram and LinkedIn, see below.

Follow Beam Suntory:

• Website: beamsuntory.com
• Instagram: @beamsuntory

Follow Rachel:

• Instagram: @rachelsharris_ 
• LinkedIn: Rachel Harris

This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

Christina Kollereb is the Director of On-Premise Consumer Marketing for Beam Suntory, USA and she is joined today by Beam Suntory’s Regional Account Mixologist, Amy Probasco. Amy unpacks her career evolution in mixology and bartending, sharing the ways she continues to grow in her craft and stay relevant in an industry that is always shifting.

Today on Top Shelf Integrity:

• Amy’s career evolution within mixology & how she continues to evolve
• The methodology behind the craft of mixology
• Resilience within the bar and restaurant industry
• How to stay relevant in an industry that’s always changing
• Where Amy gains inspiration for new cocktail recipes
• What to know about the hospitality side of mixology 

Follow Beam Suntory:

• Website: beamsuntory.com
• Instagram: @beamsuntory

Follow Rachel:

• Instagram: @rachelsharris_ 
• LinkedIn: Rachel Harris

This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

Dan Cohen is the Senior PR and Social Media Director at Beam Suntory, and he is joined by Adam Harris, the Advocacy Manager for Beam Suntory. Today they unpack the dynamic role of a brand ambassador, the qualities that make up a great one, and the values they must uphold.

Today on Top Shelf Integrity:

• The value a brand ambassador provides to bars, brands, & the industry
• Traits that make up a great brand ambassador
• The role of education & inclusivity in being a brand ambassador
• Advice for becoming a brand ambassador

Follow Beam Suntory:

• Website: beamsuntory.com
• Instagram: @beamsuntory

Follow Rachel:

• Instagram: @rachelsharris_ 
• LinkedIn: Rachel Harris

This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

VP of On-Premise USA at Beam Suntory, Rachel Harris, is joined by Carlo Coppola, Chief Commercial Officer at Beam Suntory USA. Today’s conversation is an excerpt from the video series “Proof You Can,” where Rachel and Carlo talk about how change affects an organization, and how working across an organization, top down bottom up, is so important to that organization’s success.

Watch the full episode on Rachel Harris's Instagram and LinkedIn, see below.

Follow Beam Suntory:

• Website: beamsuntory.com
• Instagram: @beamsuntory

Follow Rachel:

• Instagram: @rachelsharris_ 
• LinkedIn: Rachel Harris

This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

VP of On-Premise USA at Beam Suntory, Rachel Harris, is joined by Ken Ruff, VP of National Accounts of On-Premise Beam Suntory USA, and Emily Williams Knight, Chief Collaboration Officer and Executive VP of Industry Relations. Today’s conversation from the video series “Proof You Can” unpacks how consumers and employees can feel reassured about safety as we begin to return to restaurants and bars from the pandemic.

Watch the full episode on Rachel Harris's Instagram and LinkedIn, see below.

Follow Beam Suntory:

• Website: beamsuntory.com
• Instagram: @beamsuntory

Follow Rachel:

• Instagram: @rachelsharris_ 
• LinkedIn: Rachel Harris

This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

VP of On-Premise USA at Beam Suntory, Rachel Harris, is joined by Heather Boyd, the Managing Director of Beam Suntory USA’s Ready-To-Drink business, and John Horn, the Customer VP for Hotel and Regional Accounts of On-Premise Beam Suntory USA. Today’s sneak peek inside the video series “Proof You Can” explores the innovations they have brought to the table during the pandemic, like Cocktails-To-Go, and what goes into this level of problem-solving.

Watch the full episode on Rachel Harris's Instagram and LinkedIn, see below.

Follow Beam Suntory:

• Website: beamsuntory.com
• Instagram: @beamsuntory

Follow Rachel:

• Instagram: @rachelsharris_ 
• LinkedIn: Rachel Harris

This show is produced by Soulfire Productions