Helmsman Imports and 7th Sky partner in Florida
Spirits importer Helmsman Imports has partnered with distributor 7th Sky Ventures to help emerging brands enter the Florida market.
The strategic partnership between New York’s Helmsman Imports and Tampa-based 7th Sky aims to connect brands with distributors who understand the category, relevant channels, and important accounts.
According to the partners, Florida is one of the top three states in the US for spirits sales, with a population of more than 23 million residents and approximately 140m annual visitors.
The state’s diverse Latin American, Caribbean, and international communities, combined with a ‘thriving’ hospitality industry, are said to create a compelling growth market for both domestic and international producers, especially for those specialising in rum, Tequila, mezcal, and other speciality categories.
Jeff Diego, founder and CEO of Helmsman Imports, said: “The hardest part of growing a spirits brand in the US is not making a great product; it is getting that product moving in the right accounts. We have built the import and compliance infrastructure for more than 100 brands.
“This collaboration with 7th Sky adds real on-the-ground expertise in one of the country’s most important markets, alongside the distribution partnerships our brands already have in place.”
Under the arrangement, Helmsman will manage compliance, logistics, and back-office operations.
Meanwhile, 7th Sky Ventures will handle on-premise activation, placement in the hospitality channel, and speciality distribution throughout Florida, helping brands to move more efficiently from warehouse to point of sale.
The collaboration will initially target brands in both companies’ portfolios, with plans to include additional producers, both domestically and internationally, focusing on Florida as a growth market.
7th Sky is led by CEO and founder Isabella Honrado-Rosal, who claims to be the ‘world’s first master rummelier’.
Through the company’s partnership with chef Jonathan Rodriguez of FomoChefs, 7th Sky has served more than 40 brands and 85 hospitality assets.
The company has established strong relationships across the country’s on-premise landscape and maintains an export network operating in the UK, Canada, and Asia.
Honrado-Rosal explained: “What stood out about Helmsman is that Jeff is a brand founder himself. He has lived the journey these producers are going through, and that shows in how his team operates.
“The infrastructure and level of support Helmsman provides is a step above what I have seen from traditional importing partners. That made this an easy decision for us.”
Last month, Helmsman Imports hosted a Craft Spirits Takeover in London after BCB.
From 5-6 June, the importer will head to Manhattan for The Rum Lab’s ninth annual New York Rum Festival & Conference.
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