Just now had time to catch up. Saw the PR on "BEST PRODUCTS Dist", here is the breakdown:
Looks like same scenario as the broker before "Grantt Eddinger", however I show Best Products as having their status revoked by Nevada. This could mean it is not up to date, state secretaries are not that accurate. Or newly formed, which I think is the case.
The owner, Tom Riley, does live in Vegas and the DBA is registered there, in his late 40's. He does own TJ's Wholesale, www.tjwholesale.net. That too has a revoked status though.
Before anyone starts to bash the PR as shady (which does appear that way), understand that ALL start up products like this rely on BROKERS. Without someone helping you sell your products (a sales force alone does not cut in the food business, you need inside contacts) you would have no chance of success. I attend many many food shows a yr and interact with owners and brokers soley. A broker will push up to 50 diff products. It allows small companies to pay straight commissions deals and have your product talked about all over for "free". I am going to go on the side that Best Products is just that, a start up borker, but continue to dig around for sure. Grannt Eddinger is legit, just a dude pushing product to Piggly Wiggly and a few others.
As far as wholesale, in this buisness, the wholesale would not mean a Sam's Club/Costco, that is still considered a retail environment as it is open to the public. Wholesale will require a tax ID to buy from them. So this could be where TJ's comes in play. Best Products distributs to TJ's and then sales it retail.
They are pushing the shots because of the gift shop / airport aspect. They again, do not have cooler space and doubtful cooler rights... This is the good thing about the shots, they are small and easy to store and sell, great for a gift shop.
Does anyone know why Red Bull is in a slimer can? It is not a cost or value issue. It was because they did not have cooler rights early on and had to use the 3 foot table tops just like Koma is about too. It could hold more product to sell..and looked different, seperated itself from the standard can. It's about the can and the spot you get in the cooler :)
At this point, let's just hope product is making to the market soon. I could careless about the TA for now, removing it does not sell beverages. If BBDA does not start selling bev's the TA is last of the worries cause the cash flow is gone...
Hope for Austin by end of Jan, then beging to worry.
AI
