May 18, 2020
Breakthru Beverage Group, a leading North American beverage distributor with operations across the United States and Canada, today announced the appointment of Barry Thompson as the Executive Vice President of Breakthru Beverage South Carolina. In this role, Thompson will be responsible for leading all aspects of the organization’s business operations including growth strategies in support of suppliers and customers.
“Barry is a proven leader with a strong performance track record across beverage alcohol categories and a wealth of CPG industry experience, and I am delighted to announce his appointment as our Executive Vice President in the South Carolina market,” said Kevin Dunn, President, East U.S. Region, Breakthru Beverage Group. “Our talented South Carolina team is deeply committed to helping partners thrive and I believe Barry’s leadership and unwavering commitment to mutual success will prove essential in continuing to grow partner relationships.”
Since Thompson joined Breakthru Beverage in 2011 as VP, General Manager, United Division in South Carolina, he has effectively led his team to a myriad of supplier performance rewards and recognitions in both the wine and spirits categories. His team has posted strong revenue and gross profit results, consistently out-performing national averages. Barry has also helped implement a sales forecasting tool and enhanced other operational processes yielding meaningful savings for the organization and its partners.
“I am thrilled for this opportunity to lead the business in my home state. I have the utmost confidence in Breakthru’s long-term strategic vision and believe we are well positioned for sustained growth and success,” Thompson said. “The knowledge I’ve gained and the relationships I have cultivated in South Carolina are invaluable and I am thrilled to have an opportunity to leverage my experiences more broadly to help advance Breakthru’s interests across the State.”
Prior to joining Breakthru, Thompson held roles of increasing responsibility at Diageo, North America and Pepsi-Cola Company. His last role at Diageo was SVP – General Manager: Southeast – U.S. Spirits where he drove all business planning and sales efforts in the Southern U.S. His region delivered strong and sustainable financial results, a hallmark of his leadership.
Barry values community outreach and is a member at Wine & Spirits Wholesalers Association of South Carolina. He grew up in South Carolina and attended Wofford College on a football scholarship where he continues involvement in the school’s alumni association. He resides in South Carolina with his wife of 30 years.
About Breakthru Beverage Group
Breakthru Beverage Group is one of the leading alcohol wholesalers in the United States and the largest broker in Canada representing a full total beverage alcohol portfolio of spirits, wine and beer. Across all markets, Breakthru aligns a nimble and insightful approach to sales, marketing and operations. Family ownership is active in the business and committed to being stewards of heritage and champions of innovation. For more information, visit www.BreakthruBev.com.