Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits Named to Forbes’ 2025 List of America’s Best Employers for New Grads
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (Southern Glazer’s), the largest North American distributor of beverage alcohol and a leader in the wine and spirits industry, has once again secured a place on the prestigious Forbes list of America’s Best Employers for New Grads 2025. This annual recognition, developed in collaboration with Statista—a global data and business intelligence platform—spotlights companies that are making meaningful investments in the careers of recent college graduates. The list was officially released on May 20, 2025, and is currently available for viewing on the
This recognition reflects Southern Glazer’s deep commitment to building a workplace culture where early-career professionals can thrive, innovate, and develop long-term careers. It also marks the second consecutive year that Southern Glazer’s has been included on this highly competitive list, underscoring the company’s ongoing efforts to attract, support, and retain young talent.
Methodology Behind the Ranking
To compile the 2025 edition of the list, Forbes and Statista conducted an extensive and independent survey of over 100,000 young professionals in the United States. These individuals, all with fewer than 10 years of professional experience, were employed at organizations with a minimum of 1,000 employees across the country. The evaluation process combined two types of feedback:
- Direct feedback: Ratings and testimonials from the employees themselves, based on their personal experiences at their place of work.
- Indirect feedback: Evaluations from individuals in the respondents’ personal and professional networks—such as family members, friends, or colleagues—who work in similar industries.
Importantly, the final scores placed a much greater emphasis on direct, personal feedback, ensuring that the rankings reflect authentic and firsthand experiences of early-career employees. The evaluation focused on key aspects such as onboarding and training, career advancement opportunities, inclusivity, workplace culture, and compensation.
A Culture of Growth and Inclusion
Southern Glazer’s recognition by Forbes is more than a celebratory accolade; it serves as validation of the company’s intentional strategy to build an inclusive and empowering work environment for the next generation of professionals. In an industry often defined by tradition and legacy, Southern Glazer’s stands out for its forward-thinking approach to people development and innovation.
Amy Kickham, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Southern Glazer’s, expressed her gratitude for the honor and emphasized the company’s commitment to fostering growth for young talent.\
“We are deeply honored to receive this recognition for a second year,” said Kickham. “This special award is a testament to our dedication to helping new professionals thrive in their career journey, providing an impactful start and a space to learn and grow. We value the contributions new graduates bring to the workplace to help shape our future.”
Kickham noted that early-career employees often bring fresh perspectives, technological fluency, and a passion for innovation—qualities that align with Southern Glazer’s ongoing mission to lead the beverage alcohol distribution industry through both service excellence and digital transformation.
Investments in Professional Development
Southern Glazer’s has made substantial investments in structured development programs tailored specifically for new graduates. These initiatives include:
- Leadership development tracks that provide guided mentorship and cross-functional experiences.
- Internship-to-employment pipelines designed to give students meaningful exposure before graduation and a seamless transition to full-time roles.
- In-house learning platforms offering ongoing education in everything from supply chain management to sales, customer service, and compliance.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training modules that equip employees to contribute to a more inclusive workplace.
These programs are part of a broader talent strategy that recognizes the value of lifelong learning and professional agility. Southern Glazer’s understands that today’s graduates are looking for more than just a job—they are seeking purpose, impact, and growth—and the company works diligently to meet and exceed those expectations.
Advancing Representation and Equity
Another major factor in Southern Glazer’s recognition is the company’s leadership in advancing diversity and representation throughout its workforce. The company has made measurable progress in fostering equity by:
- Increasing representation across roles and leadership levels.
- Implementing equitable hiring and promotion policies.
- Supporting employee resource groups (ERGs) that reflect and amplify diverse identities.
- Conducting regular pay equity reviews to ensure fair compensation.
The company’s DEI roadmap also includes external partnerships with universities, nonprofits, and industry organizations that help create access to opportunities for underrepresented groups.
Southern Glazer’s believes that an inclusive culture is a key differentiator in today’s competitive job market and critical to attracting top talent from all backgrounds.
