Press Releases

Maine Beer & Wine Distributors Association Partners with Olympian Julia Clukey to Create Labor Day PSA

August 31, 2010

Pictured above (left to right): Nick Alberding, president of the Maine Beer & Wine Distributors Association, Olympian Julia Clukey and Brian Strack, regional sales manager for Blueberry Broadcasting in Augusta.

AUGUSTA, Maine – The Maine Beer & Wine Distributors Association (MBWDA) has partnered with Olympian Julia Clukey to create a public service announcement (PSA) for the Labor Day holiday. The PSA is part of the ongoing responsibility campaign by the MBWDA to communicate that alcohol is a unique product that requires regulation and responsibility. The PSA will air on the Blueberry Broadcasting radio stations and other local stations throughout state during the two week period leading up to the Labor Day holiday. Over the past month, Clukey has also been speaking at local high schools as part of the association's responsibility campaign to talk with students about the importance of good decision making.

The new Labor Day PSA features Maine Olympian and member of the US National Luge Team, Julia Clukey emphasizing the importance of using a designated driver and keeping Maine safe over the holiday weekend.

"Working with the Maine Beer & Wine Distributors Association on their ongoing responsibility campaign has provided me with a great opportunity to reach out to the community and emphasize the importance of good decision making," said Julia Clukey.

In addition to the PSAs, Olympian Julia Clukey will make numerous morning show appearances this week on local Blueberry Broadcasting radio stations across Maine including WABK 104.3 FM, WKSQ 94.5 FM, WLKE 99.1 FM, WMCM 103.3 FM, WBFB 104.7 FM, WTOS 105.1 FM, WTQX 96.7 FM, WQSS 102.5 FM, WVQM 101.3 FM, WTUX 101.1 FM and WVOM 103.9 FM.

Clukey, a native of Augusta, Maine, is a member of the US National Luge Team and most recently competed in the 2010 winter Olympics in Vancouver. Clukey finished 17th in the 2010 Winter Games and also finished 5th in the 2009 World Championship and 2nd in the 2009 National Championship. She also recently announced plans to compete in the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

"Our association is very fortunate to be partnered with Julia on the PSAs and school appearances. In addition to being a world-class athlete, she is a tremendous person and role model. With Julia's support, we trust our message of responsibility will make an impact on Mainers and help them to make good decisions," said Nick Alberding, president of the MBWDA.

Earlier this year, the MBWDA and Olympian Julia Clukey created PSAs during the high school graduation season and early summer months to remind young adults and their friends that one bad decision could jeopardize their future.

To listen to the PSAs from the Maine Beer & Wine Distributors Association as part of their current responsibility campaign, visit www.mainebeerandwine.com/responsibility.

Olympian Julia Clukey and members of the Maine Beer & Wine Distributors Association are available for interviews about the new PSA campaign. To arrange, contact Greg Glynn at Nancy Marshall Communications at 207-623-4177.

The Maine Beer & Wine Distributors Association Partners with Olympian Julia Clukey to Create Underage Drinking PSA

June 2, 2010

Pictured above (left to right): Jon James, host of The Moose Morning Show, Julia Clukey, Olympian and Nick Alberding, president of the MBWDA in the recording studio at 92 Moose in Augusta.

AUGUSTA, Maine - The Maine Beer & Wine Distributors Association (MBWDA) has partnered with Olympian Julia Clukey to launch a series of public service announcements (PSA) to raise awareness about underage drinking. The PSAs will debut this week on local Citadel Broadcasting and Cumulus radio stations throughout the state to coincide with the high school graduation season. The underage drinking PSAs are part of an ongoing responsibility campaign by the MBWDA to actively promote the responsible consumption of their products.  During the holiday season last winter, the Association and the Maine State Police aired a PSA to salute designated drivers.

The new PSA features Maine Olympian and member of the US National Luge Team, Julia Clukey. The announcements will air during the high school graduation season and early summer months to remind young adults and their friends that one bad decision could jeopardize their future, or as Clukey puts it, "send you off course."

"Working with the Maine Beer & Wine Distributors on these PSA's as part of their ongoing responsibility campaign provides me with a meaningful way to connect with young Mainers. I am happy to help spread their message of responsibility and I strongly believe that together we will help make a difference," said Julia Clukey.

Clukey, a native of Augusta, Maine, is a member of the US National Luge Team and competed in the last two winter Olympics in Torino (2006) and in Vancouver (2010). Clukey finished 17th in the 2010 Winter Games and also finished 5th in the 2009 World Championship and 2nd in the 2009 National Championship. She also recently announced plans to compete in the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
 
In addition to the PSAs, Julia will make numerous on-air appearances on local Citadel Broadcasting and Cumulus radio stations across Maine. Appearances will include The Moose Morning Show, WMME, The Morning Buzz, WEBB, The Q Morning Show, WJBQ, The WBLM Morning Show, WQCB Breakfast Flake and WBZN Morning Show and more.

"We're thrilled to partner with Julia and the Citadel and Cumulus radio stations on this important campaign to reach young Mainers. With help from the stations, we trust our message of responsibility will reach Maine's youth encouraging them to make good decisions. We're confident that Julia's tremendous success as a junior national champion as well as National Luge Team member and Olympian will resonate with them," said MBWDA President Nick Alberding.

To listen to the PSAs from the Maine Beer & Wine Distributors' responsibility campaign, visit www.mainebeerandwine.com/responsibility.php.

Olympian Julia Clukey and members of the Maine Beer & Wine Distributors are available for interviews about the new PSA campaign. To arrange, contact Greg Glynn at Nancy Marshall Communications at 207-623-4177.

The Maine Beer & Wine Distributors Association Announces Efforts to Help Protect the Environment

April 22, 2010

AUGUSTA, Maine -

Employee Brent Johnson uses a microphone with voice pick technology to select wine from the warehouse at Pine State Beverage Company in Gardiner, Maine. The use of this new technology and other eco-friendly initiatives by members were announced on Earth Day 2010. Photo courtesy of Pine State Beverage Company.

In celebration of Earth Day, members of The Maine Beer & Wine Distributors Association (MBWDA) are raising a glass to Mother Nature and the environment. Today, association members announced proactive, eco-friendly initiatives they are using to responsibly deliver their products to Maine retailers, restaurants and bars. Some of the eco-friendly efforts include voice pick technology, energy efficient equipment, recycling programs, and procedures to reduce driver idling time.

"As beer and wine distributors in Maine, we recognize the responsibility we have to put safe and eco-friendly vehicles and trucks on the road and energy efficient products and procedures in our warehouses. The steps we are taking are among some of the best industry practices to help protect the environment not only today, but for the future generations of our families and people across the state of Maine," said Nick Alberding, president of the MBWDA.

The MBWDA members provide state-wide distribution of their beer and wine products on a daily basis to retail and on-premise locations. Their services are part of state-based regulation that ensures products are consumed legally and responsibly.

The members of MBWDA announced the following initiatives and programs that are in place to help distribute their products in an eco-friendly manner:

Aroostook Beverage Company (Presque Isle)

• Installed energy-efficient lighting
• Staff recycles all paper and cardboard

Central Distributors, Inc. (Lewiston)

• Installed web-based reporting software to reduce printing and paper
  
• All warehouses and office areas have efficiency lighting and occupancy sensors
  
• Improved company-wide recycling procedures, including sending paper to Maine Recycling<

• Compressors use energy-efficient synthetic oil that requires less electricity
  
• Use of "Ice Cold Technology" with a non-toxic, non-hazardous, 100 percent, chlorine-free synthetic catalyst to reduce carbon emissions and improve efficiency
  
• Efficiency lighting is used throughout the facility, including occupancy sensors
  
• Purchase recycled products
  
• New distribution trucks have an auto shut-off feature to reduce idling times
  
• GPS devices are used to reduce driving times
  
• Employees shutdown all computers at the end of each work day

• Purchased three new energy-efficient forklifts
  
• Recycle 100 percent of office waste paper
  
• Switched to T5 fluorescent bulbs

• New 155,000 sq. ft. facility uses less electricity than their older location that was 25,000 sq. ft. smaller
  
• Use T8 fluorescent blubs for main lighting and CFLs for secondary lighting

• Use T5 fluorescent bulbs resulting in an estimated savings of $30,000 per year
  
• Instituted "no idling" policy when making deliveries
  
• All cleaning solutions in the building have been switched to "green" products with no phosphates, low toxicity and reduced packaging
  
• Use of "Ice Cold Technology" with a non-toxic, non-hazardous, 100 percent chlorine free synthetic catalyst to reduce carbon emissions and improve efficiency

• Warehouse is outfitted with motion sensor lighting (after 15 seconds the lights drop down to 30 percent of their full capacity)
  
• Recently introduced voice pick technology that eliminates paper
  
• Installed GPS on delivery trucks to track driver idling time and speed, allowing management to address fuel usage and control consumption and costs
  
• Over 100 diesel delivery trucks are governed to 65 miles per hour to reduce fuel usage
  
• Purchased energy efficient printers to reduce paper and costs

• Recently replaced all warehouse and office lighting to be more energy efficient
  
• Warehouse lighting uses motion detectors to turn the lights off after 15 minutes
  
• Replaced all cooling and air conditioning equipment with new energy efficient equipment
  
• Replaced 30 year-old heating system to reduce their carbon imprint, the changes are expected to save 30-35 percent on heating bills
  
• Installed new energy efficient keg cooler
  
• Recycle all aluminum and most cardboard