February 2009
NATIONAL TREND

The need for Fintech's services becomes an even greater necessity as alcohol sales increase. Time and money is saved by replacing manual operations with automated procedures while eliminating the cost of printing checks, maintaining accounts, and reducing the amount of personnel time spent throughout the process.

ALCOHOL SALES HOLDS STRONG

Recessions during the last 50 years haven't had much of an impact on alcohol sales, according to Jeff Becker, president of The Beer Institute. The biggest slowdown in sales came in 1991, when the beer tax was doubled.

In a recent Gannett News Service article, Becker said he expected profit margins to remain about 1 percent nationally through the end of 2008. That's not bad, even for good times, he said.

In the same article, Gladys Horiuchi, of the Wine Institute of California, said the national wine industry is holding up fine. During the last quarter of 2008, dollar sales and volume were up over the previous-year period.

September and October has seen consumers "really moved toward value wines," says wine industry expert Jon Fredrikson of Gomberg Fredrikson & Associates.

"Many stores are adding alcoholic beverages to their assortment, providing more opportunities for consumers to purchase alcoholic beverages at competitive prices," said Richard Hurst, senior vice president, beverage alcohol, for Nielsen. "And as we've seen in the past, some states may experiment with extended hours for alcoholic beverage purchases, such as Sunday sales, for an additional boost."

"Retailers should consider multiple store display locations to capitalize on impulse purchasing, as well as providing gift accessories nearby, such as bottle openers, gift bags, mixed drink party pack ingredients and glassware." Given that fewer consumers are likely to be able to afford luxury wines and spirits in their budgets and there is evidence of trading down, stores would do well to ensure that they offer products across a variety of price segments."

Hurst added, "Historical as well as more recent consumer trends indicate that alcoholic beverages are much more recession-resistant than many other product categories." And while consumers are reducing on-premise consumption and trading down to less expensive beverages, they are reluctant to cut back significantly on beer, wine and spirits, according to Hurst. "With the prospect of limited economic recovery this year, consumers are likely to consider alcoholic beverages as an affordable indulgence.

WINE TAKES OFF IN C-STORES

With that said, we decided to take a look at the wine category's recent performance in the off-premise.

Reportedly, table wine volumes are growing faster in the newer c-store channel (with relatively easier comps) than in food and drug stores. Dollar sales of table wine in c-stores grew 10.9% in the four weeks to November 30, while food and drug stores saw sales of 4.1%.

Domestic table wines performed strongly in both food/drug stores (6%) and c-stores (13.9%), but volumes of imports declined -1.8% in food/drug and grew 2.6% in c-stores. C-stores traditionally offer more mainstream wine brands and less selection.

If this economy has you reaching for a glass of wine, you aren't alone.

It's not like people come in and say, 'I'm going to get drunk because of what is happening in the world,'" said Kim Duncan, manager of the Barrel Wine & Spirits Co. in downtown Jackson. "But I think people are entertaining at home more, which helps our sales."

Duncan, who has worked at the Barrel for 26 years, said their sales have gone up more than normal in the last year. She has noticed that wine sales in particular have increased substantially.

"I call it job security," she joked.

Michael Everett, owner of The Forked Vine Wine & Spirits in Jackson, has often heard the adage that the wine and liquor business is recession-proof.

"I'm not sure I agree with that," said Everett, who has been in the business for nine years and owned The Forked Vine since 2006. "But it's definitely buffered from the economy more than many industries. We aren't exactly hurting for customers."

For more information on how we can save you time and money please contact Fintech Sales at 800.572.0854 x 292 or sales@fintech.net



1 Mariann Martin, "Alcohol sales up in down economy," Jacksonsun.com 12 Jan. 2009

2 CSP Information Group Inc, "C-Stores Stand to Benefit From Stay-at-Home Drinkers," CSP Daily News 4 Dec. 2008

3 Megan Haverkorn, "Wine Takes Off in C-Stores," Wine & Spirits Daily 16 Dec. 2008.
Fintech Focus on Employees

Mandi Aiton is our Activation Manager. While working with a great team, she oversees those responsible for set up of new customers and locations. Her department has been busy with numerous mergers and acquisitions in the past year and is planning for a busy 2009. Mandi has been with Fintech for over 11 years and has seen many exciting changes as our company has grown.

Mandi has lived in the Tampa Bay area for 12 years and lives with her husband and their two cats, Sophie and Ash.
Congratulations Winners!
Please join us in congratulating the winners of our quarterly Fintech Focus newsletter contest! (November 2008):

First Prize - $500 gift certificate to one of a selection of Fintech retailers

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Second Prize - $100 gift certificate to one of a selection of Fintech retailers

Diane Dudzik - Strack & Vantil

Third Prize - $50 gift certificate to one of a selection of Fintech retailers

Sue Harris - Premium Beers of Oklahoma
Bob Patrick - Beverage Sales, Inc.
James Wetzel - Wintzell's Oyster House
Michael Guzzo - Outback
Bridget Stryjewski - Carrabbas Italian Grill

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Distributors
Above it All
Amante Wine and Spirits LLC
Amoskeag Beverages, LLC
Basten Beverage Co.
Best Brands Incorporated
Blue Ridge Beverage Co., Inc.
Bocu Liquors, LLC
Calypso Imports
Carolina Craft Distributing NC,LLC
Centennial Distributing
Chateau Pomije Winery
Coleman Distributing
Cork Works Wine Company
Cru Selections
Debb's Liquor
Eagle Rock Dalton
East Shore Vineyard
Euro USA Wine-Belvino
Famous Liquor
Gambino Wine Imports,LLC.
Hale's Ales Ltd
Hyde Park Wine & Spirits
Indigo Imp Brewery, Ltd.
Lake Effect Winery
Meinhardt Vineyards
Mitchell Distributing - Columbus
Mitchell Distributing - Tupelo
NWO Beverage, Inc.
Palmetto Spirits
Prime Wine and Spirits
R.A. Jeffery's Dist. Co. New Bern
R.A. Jeffery's Dist., LLC Rockingham
Regent Wine Distributing, Inc.
Sandy Mac's Distributing, LLP
Specialty Beverage LLC - VA
Superior Cellars, LLC
TNT Beverages
Tri-State Juice Company
Volunteer Distributing Co.
Wine Quest Distributing
Winenet Inc.

Convenience Stores
A.P. Capital, Inc.
Atlas Oil Company
Conroy's Express
Creative International Retail Services, Inc.
Fishermans Headquarters, Inc.
Helios Prime, Inc.
Hope Hardwork & Happiness, Inc.
Int'l Petroleum of West Palm Beach, LLC.
McPherson Oil Company
PCF SaleCo, LLC - (K&G)
Phil's One Stop #9
Quik Way - Night Day and New Night
Silver's Travel Center
Snappy Jacks Inc.
West End Pit Stop

Supermarkets
Carniceria Los Pastores
Cox Bethel IGA
Cox Maysville IGA
Cox Ripley IGA
El Ahorro
Food City LLC
Keller Beverage Company
Concessions
Destin Lanes / Roe Enterprises
GAF Society
Green Hills Retirement Community
Lancer Hospitality Washington LLC
Novare Events
Oak Mountain Golf
Pine Island
Quail Valley Golf Course
The Showare Center
Tonto Verde Association
Watermark Marina of Wilmington

Hotels
Chicago Downtown Marriott
Columbus Easton Hotel II, LLC
Embassy Suites Ridgeland
Golden Hotels
Hyatt - Archon Group
Memorial City 4 Points Beverage LLC
Montelucia Resort and Spa
Ritz-Carlton - Dove Mountain
Sheraton West Houston Beverage
The Charter House Inn
Trinity F & B Services, Inc.
Wingate Inn by Wyndham

Liquor Store
Big Bev Inc.
Big D's Beverages
Chubby's PIC-A-BEER
King's Liquors, Inc.
Lake Liquors Wine & Spirits, LLC
Liquor Palace 4, Inc.
Seven Star Liquors, Inc.
Vintage Estate Enterprises, Inc.

Restaurant/Bar
45 Allen Plaza Development
Aigre Doux Restaurant
Allen Ventures, LLC
Antares Investment Co.
Arena Tavern
Autostrada
Baggin's Inc.
Balcony Restaurant Group
Bar Louie - Mishawaka
Bar Louies
Baylee's Steakhouse
Bennigans
BG Pizza Ft. Worth Private Clubs Inc.
Boston's The Gormet Pizza - Tucson
Brandon Iguana, LLC
Brooklyn Pizza, Inc.
Buffalo Wild Wings
Buffalo Wild Wings
Casa Del Matador
Chandler Polar LLC
CHI Hospitality Land Co. LLC
Click's Billards
Cody's Original Roadhouse
Connestee Falls Golf Club
Cork
Restaurant/Bar
Cruiser's Grill
D & B Mitchell Group
Dove Mountain Grill
Fabuloso Specialties, Inc.
Fat Daddy's - Mansfield
FEC F&B dba Shenaniganz
Fox Den Country Club
Fresco's Cocina Mexicana
G Willickers Pub
Gabriela's Heavenly Wings
Giordano's - Lake Zuirch
Griffith Town Tap
Hurricane Grill & Wings
Hurricane Grill & Wings Winter Haven
Indigo Restaurant
Junior's Grill & Ice House
Kilburn One, LP
Kilburn Three LP
Kincaid's Hamburgers
La Canada 141 LLC
Mackay Restaurants
Maybar 105 Associates, LLC
MBB Restaurants & Catering
Mighty Fine Burgers Fries & Shakes
MWJ Enterprises, Inc.
Nacho Daddy's
NARF HOU Beverage Company
Outback Steakhouse Ismorada
Pallota's Italian Grill
PDX Grill Point Harbor
Peoria Polar LLC
RFRG Goldenrod
RFRG Lake Mary
RFRG Sandlake
RFRG UCF
Rosa's Cafe & Tortilla Factory
Ruby Tuesday - San Antonio
Shaggy's Harbor Bar and Grill
Sirenuse Beverages, Inc.
SNL Market Heights FCG LP
Sonny's BBQ
Sophia M Entertainment
SPEGO Holdings, Inc.
Stax Burger Bistro
Sur Real Cuisine
Texadelphia
That'sa Pizza
The City Pier Resturant
The Clear River Tavern
The Dawg House LLC
The Lodge, LLC
The Porter
The Rookwood Bar & Restaurant
Thirsty Bernie, LLC
Thirsty Turtle
Tiger Sushi II, LLC
Too Chez, Inc.
Tumbleweed Bar B Que, LLC
Twin Peaks Restaurant
Zoes Kitchen
Zoom Entertainment

7702 Woodland Center Blvd., Suite 50 | Tampa, FL 33614