MIAMI & DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (“Southern Glazer’s”) — the largest North American wine and spirits distribution company — today announced that it is celebrating its 16th consecutive year as the host of the Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF®). The festival benefits the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University (FIU) and to date, has raised more than $24 million for the School. As the host, alongside FIU, Southern Glazer’s is the exclusive provider of wine and spirits for the star-studded, five-day gourmet gathering designed to encourage people to eat, drink, and educate themselves about great food, wine and spirits.
“While the Festival is best known for being one of the top food and wine events in the U.S., it has been a non-profit from day one and has served as an outstanding philanthropic outlet to increase awareness and raise millions of dollars for FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management and the Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center,” said Wayne Chaplin, CEO of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. “We believe the Festival is the perfect vehicle to help us reinforce our Company’s commitment to hospitality education and develop future leaders in our industry.”
Over 1,000 FIU students volunteer each year to help produce the festival, giving them a unique hands-on industry experience participating alongside event management professionals, world-renowned chefs, winemakers, spirits producers, and restauranteurs. Between SOBEWFF® and its sister the Food Network & Cooking Channel New York City Wine & Food Festival, more than $33 million has been raised to benefit the respective charities of each festival.
“As part of our commitment to giving back to our communities, we are also once again working with the Miami Rescue Mission to rescue food from some of our signature evening events at this year’s festival,” said Lee Brian Schrager, SVP of Communications & Corporate Social Responsibility for Southern Glazer’s, and Founder and Director of SOBEWFF® and its sister festival in New York City. “Last year, these rescue efforts helped provide approximately 5,000 meals for formerly-homeless residents of the shelter and currently-homeless guests invited in off the street every day for sustenance.”
The festival features over 90 events for every taste and budget including vibrant entertainment experiences, walk-around tastings, wine seminars, and intimate dinners. It also features the Wine Spectator Trade Day, an invitation-only event for Southern Glazer’s customers offering insiders the opportunity to learn about new trends and products in the beverage industry. For tickets and a full list of events visit sobewff.org or call 877-762-3933.
About Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is North America’s largest wine and spirits distributor, and the preeminent data insights company for alcoholic beverages. The Company has operations in 44 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, Canada, and the Caribbean, and employs more than 20,000 team members. Southern Glazer’s urges all retail customers and adult consumers to market, sell, serve, and enjoy its products responsibly. For more information visit www.southernglazers.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @sgwinespirits and on Facebook at Facebook.com/SouthernGlazers.
