EPISODES
  • Why You Need to Leverage Consumer Insights with Christina Kollereb & James Melucci

    Christina Kollereb is the Director of On-Premise Consumer Marketing at Beam Suntory for North America, and she is joined by the Director of Shopper Insights at Beam Suntory, James Melucci. In today’s conversation, they discuss the creative ways Beam Suntory helps their clients better understand what consumers are looking for from on-premise sites.


    Today on Top Shelf Integrity:

    • Why consumer insights are so valuable for strategy
    • Beam Suntory’s process for gathering consumer insights
    • Menu engineering: using data & creating ‘test and learn’ environments
    • What determines quality consumer insights
    • How inflation affects consumer awareness



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    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions


    27m | Jul 5, 2022
  • On-Premise Scale & Approach with Rachel Harris & Hiro Hayakawa

    Rachel Harris is the Vice President of On-Premise in the United States at Beam-Suntory, and Hiro Hayakawa is the Director of On-Premise Center of Excellence in the United States. Today, Rachel and Hiro talk about the role of On-Premise Portfolio Managers in scaling the On-Premise and their approach to building demand with their portfolio of brands.


    Today on Top Shelf Integrity:

    • The role of On-Premise Portfolio managers
    • How OPPMs play a key role in building demand & scaling business
    • How to be a successful OPPM
    • Infusing Japanese concepts into management
    • The value in having OPPMs as internal employees



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    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions


    25m | Jun 21, 2022
  • The Evolving Hotel Channel with Rachel Harris & Lisa Nelson

    Rachel Harris is the Vice President of On-Premise in the United States at Beam-Suntory, and she is joined by the Senior National Account Manager for Hotels at Beam-Suntory USA, Lisa Nelson. In today’s conversation, they discuss where the hotel channel was before and during the pandemic and how it survived as the hardest hit sub-channel during COVID, along with what consumers can expect for the future of their hotel experiences.


    Today on Top Shelf Integrity:

    • The impact of the pandemic on the hotel channel
    • How to support the unique demands of the hotel channel
    • How the customer experience of the hotel channel has changed
    • The future of the hotel channel



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    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    23m | Jun 7, 2022
  • East + West Marketing & Sales with Kathleen DiBenedetto & Charlie Takeuchi

    Kathleen DiBenedetto is the Senior Director of Seed Brands, and she is joined by Atsushi “Charlie” Takeuchi whose expertise is the Whisky Highball. Charlie shares his journey in building the highball business from the ground up in the U.S. after his successful experience in Japan with the Highball Machine. Kathleen talks about building Sipsmith as a high opportunity brand in the U.S, and together they discuss the challenges, opportunities, and insights from their time in this business.


    Today on Top Shelf Integrity:

    • The Whisky Highball’s history and success in Japan
    • Challenges & opportunities in growing the Highball in the states
    • Building trust & exceeding the consumer’s expectations
    • Customizing a brand to fit a culture



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    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    25m | May 24, 2022
  • Proof You Can - Straight Up Self-Awareness

    VP of On-Premise USA at Beam Suntory, Rachel Harris, is joined by Paula Erickson, SVP, Global, Chief Human Resources Officer, Beam Suntory. In today’s conversation from the video series “Proof You Can,” Rachel and Paula dive into why self-awareness is crucial to your success as a leader. They unpack the importance of listening to your employees' concerns and ways to gather their feedback to create meaningful action. 

    Watch the full episode on Rachel Harris's Instagram and LinkedIn, see below.


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    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    6m | May 10, 2022
  • Mavens of Mixology with Christina Kollereb & Amy Probasco

    Christina Kollereb is the Director of On-Premise Consumer Marketing for Beam Suntory, USA and she is joined today by Beam Suntory’s Regional Account Mixologist, Amy Probasco. Amy unpacks her career evolution in mixology and bartending, sharing the ways she continues to grow in her craft and stay relevant in an industry that is always shifting.


    Today on Top Shelf Integrity:

    • Amy’s career evolution within mixology & how she continues to evolve
    • The methodology behind the craft of mixology
    • Resilience within the bar and restaurant industry
    • How to stay relevant in an industry that’s always changing
    • Where Amy gains inspiration for new cocktail recipes
    • What to know about the hospitality side of mixology 



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    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    38m | Apr 26, 2022
  • Brand Ambassadors: The Living Embodiment of a Brand with Dan Cohen & Adam Harris

    Dan Cohen is the Senior PR and Social Media Director at Beam Suntory, and he is joined by Adam Harris, the Advocacy Manager for Beam Suntory. Today they unpack the dynamic role of a brand ambassador, the qualities that make up a great one, and the values they must uphold.


    Today on Top Shelf Integrity:

    • The value a brand ambassador provides to bars, brands, & the industry
    • Traits that make up a great brand ambassador
    • The role of education & inclusivity in being a brand ambassador
    • Advice for becoming a brand ambassador



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    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    37m | Apr 12, 2022
  • Proof You Can - Top Down Bottom Up

    VP of On-Premise USA at Beam Suntory, Rachel Harris, is joined by Carlo Coppola, Chief Commercial Officer at Beam Suntory USA. Today’s conversation is an excerpt from the video series “Proof You Can,” where Rachel and Carlo talk about how change affects an organization, and how working across an organization, top down bottom up, is so important to that organization’s success.


    Watch the full episode on Rachel Harris's Instagram and LinkedIn, see below.


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    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    6m | Mar 29, 2022
  • Proof You Can - Safety Still

    VP of On-Premise USA at Beam Suntory, Rachel Harris, is joined by Ken Ruff, VP of National Accounts of On-Premise Beam Suntory USA, and Emily Williams Knight, Chief Collaboration Officer and Executive VP of Industry Relations. Today’s conversation from the video series “Proof You Can” unpacks how consumers and employees can feel reassured about safety as we begin to return to restaurants and bars from the pandemic.

    Watch the full episode on Rachel Harris's Instagram and LinkedIn, see below.


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    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    6m | Mar 15, 2022
  • Proof You Can - Test & Learn

    VP of On-Premise USA at Beam Suntory, Rachel Harris, is joined by Heather Boyd, the Managing Director of Beam Suntory USA’s Ready-To-Drink business, and John Horn, the Customer VP for Hotel and Regional Accounts of On-Premise Beam Suntory USA. Today’s sneak peek inside the video series “Proof You Can” explores the innovations they have brought to the table during the pandemic, like Cocktails-To-Go, and what goes into this level of problem-solving.


    Watch the full episode on Rachel Harris's Instagram and LinkedIn, see below.


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    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    5m | Mar 1, 2022
  • Crafting Your Path with Rachel Harris & John Horn

    John Horn is the Customer VP for Hotel and Regional Accounts of On-Premise USA at Beam Suntory, and he is joined by Rachel Harris, the VP of On-Premise USA at Beam Suntory. Today’s conversation is about staying curious, allowing fear to push you, and how to advocate for yourself in your career growth. John and Rachel share their personal journeys in the alcohol and beverage industry, and their insights on pursuing experiences over titles, how passion is tied to motivation, and fully embracing each role before you move on to the next.


    Today on Top Shelf Integrity:

    • Career options in the alcohol & beverage industry
    • John and Rachel’s career paths: pivots, successes, challenges
    • Advocating for yourself for your career growth
    • Staying curious & combining passion with your learning objective
    • Pursuing experiences vs. titles
    • How to stay motivated & have a clear vision
    • Allowing your fear & discomfort to push you further


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    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    48m | Feb 15, 2022
  • Proof You Can - Ambition Chaser

    VP of On-Premise USA at Beam Suntory, Rachel Harris, is joined by Nicole Letcher, Divisional VP of Mid-Atlantic USA, Beam Suntory, and Meredith McCormack, Sales Director for Eastern Region USA, Beam Suntory. Tune in for a peek into the next episode from the new video series “Proof You Can.” They explore how being females in a male-dominated industry allowed them to shake up the norm and pave the path for future female leaders.


    Watch the full episode on Rachel Harris's Instagram and LinkedIn, see below.


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    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    5m | Feb 1, 2022
  • Understanding the Impact of Employee Impact Groups with Robin Nance & Monique Ozanne

    Robin Nance is the Senior Manager of Trade Engagement at Beam Suntory, and she is joined by Monique Ozanne, the Director for North America on the Diversity and Inclusion team. Today, Robin and Monique talk about the role of Employee Impact Groups at Beam Suntory, and how they lead to cultural change within organizations. They also unpack how the hospitality industry is setting the pace for the social justice conversation in the spirits industry.


    Today on Top Shelf Integrity:

    • Employee impact groups for diverse & inclusive work environments
    • How to inspire cultural & organizational change
    • The long-term vision for DE&I at Beam Suntory
    • What we can learn from the hospitality industry about social justice
    • How the hospitality industry affects the spirits industry


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    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    35m | Jan 18, 2022
  • Proof You Can - KPIs of Positivity

    VP of On-Premise USA at Beam Suntory, Rachel Harris, is joined by Megan Briar, the U.S. On-Premise Trade Relations Manager for Maker’s Mark, and Beth Burrows, the U.S. American Whiskey Ambassador for Kentucky. Tune in for a peek into the KPIs of Positivity episode from the new video series “Proof You Can.” They unpack what it means to maintain a positive mindset and the role it plays in the alcohol and beverage industry and in general, hospitality.


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    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    5m | Jan 4, 2022
  • Building Brands with Broad Appeal with Dan Cohen and Jon Marks

    Dan Cohen is the Senior PR and Social Media Director at Beam Suntory, and he is joined by Jon Marks, the Senior Director of Global Small Batch, American Whiskey at Beam Suntory. Today, Dan and Jon talk about brand building and marketing, unpacking all the nuances of marketing to consumers along with the role bartenders play in the customer journey.


    Today on Top Shelf Integrity:

    • What to consider when crafting a true & rich brand story
    • The assets and tools used by the sales team to market brands
    • The risks involved in marketing influential & coveted brands
    • How to advertise & develop a brand in an authentic way
    • Why the concept of ‘Gemba’ is a key principle in marketing
    • The consumer journey & the role the bartender plays



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    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    39m | Dec 21, 2021
  • Are you really an Entrepreneur? with John Horn and Marguerite Allolding

    John Horn is the Vice President of Hotels and Regional Accounts at Beam Suntory, and he is joined by the Senior Marketing Director, Marguerite Allolding. Today, they discuss entrepreneurship and how the experience of working as an entrepreneur at smaller endeavors translates into larger organizations, specifically for John and Marguerite—in the spirits world at Beam Suntory. 


    Today on Top Shelf Integrity:

    • What makes up an entrepreneurial mindset & not fearing failure
    • John & Marguerite’s journeys from smaller companies to Beam Suntory
    • Embedding an entrepreneurial spirit into your business
    • Creating a new product in a small vs. big business
    • Entrepreneurship and innovation in the On-Premise



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    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    51m | Dec 7, 2021
  • Building the Global Leaders of the Future with Rachel Harris, Reggie Champagne, Kelly Georgetti, Jenn Mordini

    Today’s conversation is about building global leaders, and what it takes to facilitate the growth of others. You’ll hear from four leaders across the Beam Suntory business units on their approach to innovation, evaluating business strategies, and empowering their teams to unlock each individual’s full potential.


    Today on Top Shelf Integrity:

    • Failure as opportunity & pushing out of your comfort zone
    • Innovation & growth mindset as every team members job
    • Creating a clear strategy map with actions & risk assessment
    • Learning to lead by influence vs. authority
    • Building confidence & communication in your teams
    • What they learned during Suntory’s global leadership program, Beyond Borders



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    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    50m | Nov 23, 2021
  • Spirit of Hospitality: Building Brands Together with Rachel Harris & Christina Kollereb

    Rachel Harris is the VP of On-Premise at Beam Suntory, and she is joined by the Director of On-Premise Consumer Marketing, Christina Kollereb. Today, Rachel and Christina unpack how they work with their On-Premise partners, and find synergies with their spirit brands and the brand they’re building with restaurants or bars. They talk about their collaborative conversations and engaging presentations for standing out against other suppliers. Christina also shares how Beam Suntory looks at shared goals with corporate chains to create initiatives, like their Positive Proof Initiative for building a sustainable future.


    Today on Top Shelf Integrity:

    • How Beam Suntory brings engaging program ideas & insights to partners
    • Programs created to elevate bourbon brands with chain account customers
    • Common initiatives between Beam Suntory and corporate chains for building a sustainable future
    • How to handle challenges that go against brand strategies 
    • Evolving your customer marketing team to better service customers 



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    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    31m | Aug 31, 2021
  • Proof You Can - Bouncing Back

    VP of On-Premise USA at Beam Suntory, Rachel Harris, is joined by the former President of Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, Caroline Rosen. Today’s episode is a first listen into Beam Suntory’s upcoming “Proof You Can” video series where they will be sharing cocktails and swapping stories about the alcohol and beverage industry.


    Today on Top Shelf Integrity:

    • How to rebuild the industry during and after the pandemic subsides 
    • How the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is looking towards the future
    • What they’ve learned from the pandemic & how they pivoted into virtual education
    • Ways organizations have come together for the betterment of the industry


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    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    14m | Aug 24, 2021
  • Influencing the Influencers with Dan Cohen and Lana Ohs

    Dan Cohen is the Senior PR Director and Head of Social Media at Beam Suntory, and he is joined by the Senior PR Manager, Lana Ohs. Today, Dan and Lana share their insight into Public Relations within the beverage industry, unpacking how Beam Suntory approaches education and collaboration with bartenders and other influencers.


    Today on Top Shelf Integrity:

    • Who is considered an influencer in the beverage industry
    • Creating programs that excite and educate influencers on brand stories & their values
    • How to approach collaborating with bartenders and other influencers in the industry
    • Gain insight and learnings from those who see trends first hand
    • Prioritizing diversity and inclusivity


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    This show is produced by Soulfire Productions

    32m | Aug 17, 2021
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