Heinemann spirits buyer honoured by industry

The spirits industry has named the purchase director of Gebr. Heinemann as the inaugural winner of The Spirits Business Travel Retail Buyer of the Year award.

Rüdiger Stelkens, purchase director for LTC at Heinemann is the inaugural winner of the Travel Retail Spirits Buyer of the Year Award

Rüdiger Stelkens, purchase director of Liqour, Tobacco and Confectionary at Germany-based travel retail operator Heinemann was voted the winner after receiving the lion’s share of nominations from the industry.

Stelkens, who has worked with Heinemann for six years, was praised for his “knowledge, passion and approach to the business”.

Earlier this year The Spirits Business called on travel retail directors from spirits groups across the world to nominate the buyers they felt not only go above and beyond their basic role to help brands gain visibility, but who have a true passion for spirits.

Stelkens, who collected his award at The Spirits Business Travel Retail Masters Beach Party in Cannes this week, said: “I am very excited to have won this award. This is an honour to receive. For us as a family company to have such good contacts with the spirits business and all the suppliers, and to have a good reputation in the industry is just great.”

Stelkens joined Heinemann in 2008 following a career working in domestic retail in Germany and London, where he was sales manager at Harrods Food Hall.

Gebr. Heinemann was established in 1879 and is now a travel retailer and distributor in over 100 countries.