Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, the world’s leading distributor of beverage alcohol, has made an important announcement regarding the rebranding of WEBB Banks, its brokerage operations division that primarily services the Caribbean, Central, and South American markets. The rebranding, effective February 1, 2025, will see WEBB Banks officially transition to becoming Southern Glazer’s Travel Retail Sales & Export Division. This marks a significant milestone in Southern Glazer’s strategic expansion within these regions, as well as its growing presence in the travel retail and cruise sectors.
The rebranding comes on the heels of Southern Glazer’s acquisition of the assets and operations of WEBB Banks in 2023.
While the integration has been ongoing, the division has continued to operate under the WEBB Banks name during the transitional period. With the new division name, Southern Glazer’s aims to strengthen its focus on both the local and international markets in the Caribbean and Latin America while reinforcing its position within the global travel retail sector.
Leadership Changes and New Appointments
Along with the rebrand, Southern Glazer’s has announced key leadership changes within the division. Andy Consuegra, the Chief Executive Officer of WEBB Banks, will be stepping into a new role as the Non-Executive Chairman for the Southern Glazer’s Travel Retail Sales & Export Division. Wine & Spirits In this capacity, Consuegra will continue to provide strategic guidance to the division, leveraging his decades of experience and longstanding relationships within the beverage alcohol industry.
Consuegra’s leadership has been a pivotal factor in the success and growth of WEBB Banks, Wine & Spirits and his ongoing involvement will ensure continuity as the division evolves under its new name. His expertise will remain essential in navigating the challenges and opportunities of these diverse markets.
Kam Snow, previously the Vice President of Sales for WEBB Banks, Wine & Spirits will assume the role of Vice President/General Manager of the newly rebranded division. Snow brings a wealth of experience to her new role, having worked extensively in the Caribbean and Latin American markets throughout her 20-year career. She has been a key figure at WEBB Banks and its predecessor company, Wine & Spirits Banks Channel, and her deep knowledge of these regions will be invaluable as she leads the division forward. Snow will report directly to Scott Oppenheimer, President of Southern Glazer’s East Region, and work closely with him to drive further expansion in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
In discussing the leadership transition, Oppenheimer remarked, “Andy has been instrumental in building WEBB Banks into a market leader, Wine & Spirits and we are excited to have him continue to offer his leadership and expertise as we move forward. Andy’s relationships and deep understanding of the industry are unmatched, and we look forward to his continued contributions to the division. Kam, with her exceptional background and leadership in the region, is perfectly positioned to take on this new role. We are confident that their collaboration will bring about further success as we continue to strengthen our presence in these key markets.”
Continued Growth and Strategic Expansion
Since Southern Glazer’s acquisition of WEBB Banks, Wine & Spirits the division has been focused on solidifying operations and expanding its reach. The division has already made significant strides in its growth strategy, highlighted by the successful hosting of the Caribbean and Central America Distributor Conference in Puerto Rico. This event brought together 75 distributors, 40 suppliers, and facilitated over 800 business meetings, underscoring the division’s commitment to fostering stronger relationships and creating new opportunities for collaboration across these regions.
Commenting on the rebrand and the company’s vision for the future, Consuegra stated, “I’m thrilled for this next chapter as we officially rebrand to Southern Glazer’s Travel Retail Sales & Export Division. Wine & Spirits With our talented team, enhanced portfolio, and expanded facilities, we are exceptionally well-positioned for continued growth and innovation in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. Wine & Spirits I’m particularly excited for Kam as she steps into this new role, and I look forward to supporting her as she leads this division forward. Together, we will achieve great success with our distributors and suppliers.”
Southern Glazer’s is also focused on infrastructure development to support its expanding operations. As part of its strategic initiatives, the division is launching a new 32,000-square-foot Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) in Miami, which will significantly enhance its capacity for import and export operations. Managed by Luis Ramos, Vice President Controller for Southern Glazer’s Southeast Region, this new FTZ will effectively double the capacity of existing FTZ operations and streamline the import/export process for the division.
The FTZ will provide Southern Glazer’s Travel Retail Sales & Export Division with enhanced inventory control, improved cost-efficiency, and dedicated support resources. Scheduled to begin operations in May 2025, this development will be instrumental in further optimizing the division’s operations and ensuring smoother and faster logistical processes as it continues to serve the Caribbean, Central America, and South America markets.
A Commitment to Excellence and Long-Term Growth
The rebranding of WEBB Banks to Southern Glazer’s Travel Retail Sales & Export Division is a clear reflection of the company’s commitment to long-term growth, operational excellence, and continued innovation within the beverage alcohol industry. By combining the expertise of seasoned leaders with cutting-edge infrastructure and a broad portfolio, Southern Glazer’s is poised to strengthen its leadership in the region while expanding its services across the growing travel retail and cruise sectors.
As the division enters this exciting new phase, Southern Glazer’s is confident that its enhanced capabilities and strategic leadership will provide a solid foundation for continued success. By focusing on customer needs, fostering strong partnerships with distributors and suppliers, and maintaining a steadfast commitment to service excellence, the company is well-positioned to meet the evolving demands of the global beverage alcohol market.
This rebrand marks an exciting new chapter for the company and sets the stage for continued success in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and beyond, ensuring that Southern Glazer’s remains a trusted partner and industry leader in the beverage alcohol distribution sector.
