BevMo! Announces Wilfred Wong's Retirement

CONCORD, CA--(Marketwired - Mar 18, 2014) - Ultimate neighborhood specialty beverage retailer BevMo! today announced that Wilfred Wong is retiring from BevMo! to spend more time focused on his passion for writing and researching wines. Wong served as BevMo!'s Cellar Master for the past nineteen years, reviewing thousands of wines each year and guiding BevMo! shoppers in their selection process.

"Wilfred has made countless contributions to BevMo! over the past two decades," said Alan Johnson, BevMo!'s Chief Executive Officer. "Wilfred's passion, expertise and deep understanding of wine and the industry has been a great asset to BevMo!, its partners and customers. We are thankful for all he's done for us, and only wish him the best in his future endeavors."

Over the last six months, BevMo! has made significant investment in their wine team with the key new hires including Doug Ratto as Executive Vice President - Chief Merchant, Bob Paulinski as Senior Vice President of Wine and Tom Smallhorn, Vice President of Exclusive Product and Brand Development. These three category experts bring a combined 70 years of wine and retail experience to the BevMo! team from such notable brands as Safeway, Treasury Wine Estates and Winn-Dixie, among others.

As a renowned wine judge and wine researcher, Wong worked closely with BevMo!'s wine-merchandising department and traveled frequently to France, Italy, Spain, Australia, South America and other key wine-producing countries in search of new wines and trends in the industry. Each year, Wong tasted between 6,000 and 9,000 wines and judged more than a dozen major wine competitions.

BevMo! is the leading alcoholic beverage-lifestyle specialty retailer in the western United States and among the largest in the country. With 151 stores across California, Arizona and Washington, BevMo! provides a uniquely friendly and welcoming environment for competitively priced alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and "goes with" products, such as specialty foods and snacks, cigars, glassware and related bar and wine accessories. For more information, sip alongside BevMo! on Facebook, Twitter, and the BevMo! blog, BevMo! Thirsty Times.