What Buyers, Distributors & Brands need to Know

What Buyers, Distributors & Brands need to Know

On this episode of Sippin' and Selling, Joey Chanel sits down with Sarah Harmelin, Vice President of Portfolio Development at Allied Beverage Group and fourth-generation family owner, for an inside look at one of the nation's largest beverage distributors. Sarah shares her incredible career journey from working in Hollywood television and the fashion industry to joining her family's billion-dollar beverage business. Together, they discuss the challenges of working alongside family, the evolution of alcohol distribution, the rise of THC beverages, and what the future holds for the beverage industry. The conversation explores: * Building a career in a fourth-generation family business * From Hollywood and fashion to beverage distribution * The history of Allied Beverage Group * How alcohol distribution really works * The explosion of THC and hemp-derived beverages * Why regulation matters for the industry * Non-alcoholic trends and changing consumer habits * The future of spirits, wine, and ready-to-drink cocktails * Brand building and portfolio development * Women in the beverage industry * Favorite emerging brands and industry predictions * Funny behind-the-scenes stories from Hollywood and television Sarah also shares stories from her time working in entertainment during the early days of FX, discusses iconic brands like Juicy Couture, reflects on the changing retail landscape, and reveals why innovation is essential for staying ahead in today's beverage market. Whether you're in the beverage industry, interested in entrepreneurship, fascinated by family businesses, or curious about where alcohol and alternative beverages are headed, this episode is packed with valuable insights, business lessons, and entertaining stories you won't want to miss.

The Female Founder Behind Voli 305 Vodka

On this episode of Sippin’ and Selling, Joey Chanel sits down with Priscilla Perez, co-owner of Voli 305 Vodka and longtime business partner of global superstar Pitbull, for an inspiring conversation about entrepreneurship, resilience, branding, and building a nationally recognized spirits company. Priscilla shares the incredible story of how a friendship that began in Miami decades ago evolved into a thriving business partnership. From helping introduce Pitbull's early music to industry influencers, to acquiring and rebranding Voli Vodka, she discusses the challenges, lessons, and determination required to succeed in the highly competitive spirits industry. The conversation dives into: * The origins of Voli 305 Vodka * Priscilla's friendship and business relationship with Pitbull * Building a brand from the ground up * Women in the spirits and beverage industry * Entrepreneurship and overcoming obstacles * The Hialeah Hustle mindset * Launching new ready-to-drink cocktails * Expanding into tequila, wine, and new product lines * Acquiring and building a Miami distillery * The future of Voli 305 * Partnerships with Hard Rock, Flanigan's, Margaritaville, and more * Community impact through education, philanthropy, and animal rescue initiatives Priscilla also reveals exciting news about Voli's continued expansion, discusses the importance of staying authentic in business, and explains why Miami remains at the heart of everything the brand does. This episode is packed with entrepreneurial wisdom, behind-the-scenes stories, leadership lessons, and motivation for anyone looking to build something meaningful from the ground up. Whether you're interested in business, branding, spirits, sales, marketing, entrepreneurship, or the story behind one of Miami's fastest-growing beverage brands, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Sippin & Vibin'

On this episode of Sippin and Selling, Joey Chanel welcomes fellow podcaster Caz from the Can I Vibe With Y’all Podcast for a fun, honest, and insightful conversation about podcasting, entrepreneurship, branding, music, and the work it takes to build a loyal audience. Caz shares his journey from working at Total Wine and exploring different career paths to creating a successful podcast platform that has connected with listeners across the country. Joey opens up about growing up in a third-generation liquor family, building her own beverage brands, and creating Sippin and Selling as a platform to spotlight entrepreneurs, innovators, and industry professionals. In this episode, they discuss: * The reality of starting and growing a podcast * Why consistency matters more than going viral * Building a brand and authentic audience * Content creation and social media strategy * The wine and spirits industry * Entrepreneurship and personal growth * Music, reggaeton, and podcast culture * Behind-the-scenes challenges of podcast production * Creating meaningful conversations that resonate Whether you're a creator, entrepreneur, podcaster, or simply someone chasing a dream, this episode delivers valuable lessons, relatable stories, and plenty of laughs along the way. Tune in and discover why authenticity, consistency, and community are the keys to long-term success.

From family legacy to Chinola CEO

On this episode of Sippin' and Selling, Joey Chanel sits down with entrepreneur, investor, and Chinola CEO/Co-Founder Andrew Merinoff for an inside look at the realities of building brands in the beverage industry. Andrew shares the incredible story behind Chinola Fresh Fruit Liqueurs, from the original passion fruit recipe in a Poland Spring bottle to the launch of Mango and Pineapple, the challenges of product development, and the lessons learned from scaling a fast-growing brand. The conversation dives into family legacy, growing up in one of America's largest wine and spirits distribution families, launching ventures through Dispact Ventures, investing in brands like Long Drink, building Great Jones Distilling Co. in New York City, and what it really takes to create a brand with staying power. Topics include: * The origin story of Chinola * Building a fresh fruit liqueur category * Lessons from product failures and retail challenges * The future of the spirits industry * Celebrity-backed brands that actually work * Venture investing and entrepreneurship * Family business and generational success * Hospitality, relationships, and brand building * Exclusive details on Chinola's upcoming Guava release Whether you're a founder, beverage professional, entrepreneur, or simply a fan of great stories, this episode is packed with valuable insights and behind-the-scenes industry knowledge. #SippinAndSelling #JoeyChanel #AndrewMarinoff #Chinola #SpiritsIndustry #Entrepreneurship #BrandBuilding #Hospitality #LongDrink #GreatJonesDistilling #BusinessPodcast #StartupStories #FreshFruitLiqueur #WineAndSpirits #FounderJourney

From BodyAmor to Throne: Building a Beverage Empire

On this episode of Sippin and Selling, Joey Chanel sits down with Michael Fedele, founder of Throne Sport Coffee and one of the key executives behind the incredible growth of BodyArmor from a startup sports drink to a billion-dollar brand acquired by Coca-Cola. Michael shares his journey through Coca-Cola, Vitaminwater, and BodyArmor before launching Throne Sport Coffee—a functional coffee brand designed for athletes, entrepreneurs, and active lifestyles. He explains how conversations with professional athletes revealed a major gap in the ready-to-drink coffee category and how that insight became the foundation for Throne. The discussion covers entrepreneurship, innovation, beverage industry trends, retail expansion, and the partnerships helping fuel the brand's rapid growth. In this episode: • How BodyArmor grew from $1 million to over $1 billion in sales • Why Michael left BodyArmor to start Throne Sport Coffee • The future of functional coffee and ready-to-drink beverages • Patrick Mahomes' role as lead investor and partner • Anthony Rizzo's involvement in the brand • Landing major retailers like Whole Foods, Kroger, CVS, Casey's, QuickTrip, and Hy-Vee • Lessons in entrepreneurship, leadership, and scaling a business • Why consumer feedback is critical when building a brand Michael also shares his thoughts on where the beverage industry is headed, how to build the right team, and what entrepreneurs should know before launching their next big idea. If you're interested in entrepreneurship, beverage brands, sports marketing, coffee, retail growth, or building a successful business from the ground up, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Follow Throne Sport Coffee: Instagram: @sportcoffee Follow Sippin and Selling for more conversations with entrepreneurs, founders, innovators, and industry leaders.