From the outside, the beverage industry can look like an exciting place to play—an adventrous landscape that’s busy, bold, and marked by breakthroughs.
But as you now know, from the inside of this industry, it’s a different “B” word that reins supreme:
Business.
Good news: that’s our word.
The business side of the beverage world is what we live and breathe. So while you do bold and busy and brilliant, we do sales, marketing, and the strategy that goes with it.
Our role is to build the business cases and relationships that drive your product into the on- and off-premise in new and exciting ways.
Because your next stage is all about building. And that’s where our “B” worlds collide.
Who We Are
We are sales & marketing consultants partnering with emerging beverage brands. We’ve worked in this industry for a combined total of more than 45 years. Not because we had to, but because we absolutely love helping emerging brands carve their space in this expanding beverage world.
Yes, there’s a place for you in that world. We’re here to help you indentify where that place is, then dive into it with gusto.
Tom Cortez
With over 3 decades’ experience in beverage-industry sales, marketing, and management, Tom has spent his professional career building brands while driving profitable sales and revenue for wholesaler and retail partners.
After beginning his career with Gallo Sales Company and before launching Emergent Beverage Parnters, Tom held sales-management positions with
– Heineken USA
– CK Mondavi
– Pasternak Wine Imports—Domaines Barons de Rothschild (LaFite)
– Messina Hof Wineries and Resorts
– Young’s Market Company (California distributor)
– Rutherford Wine Company
Tom’s success is a byproduct of his tireless dedication; his investment in meaningful, human-first connection; and his passion for and knowledge of the industry. (It also helps that he mixes a great drink.)
When he’s not working, Tom can be found at home with his wife of 28 years, Lisa; or hanging out with his sons Neil a recent Business Management graduate from LSU and or Blake a current graduate student in Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M, College Station; 2 loving golden retrievers; and a cat named Smudge.
The other partners…
…are, at the moment, somewhat silent strategists and relationship ninjas. They work primarily in the background. But you’ll come to know them once we’re partnering together. And you’ll benefit from their vast experience and insight even before you meet.
In addition, Emergent also brings the benfit of outside partners. From operations and logistics to clearing and shipping companies, and everything in between. Take retailers and distributors: in Texas alone, our partnerships represent over 8400 retail locations, and we leverage those relationships into win-win solutions for our clients, as well as for the distributors and retailers who work with them.
