AboutEric Hofer Expertise Over 27 years experience, with 17 in international FMCG in back office operations and in field sales and data collection, including design, development and deployment of Handhelds, Marketing Equipment (Service, Tracking and Return on Investment), reporting and Vending management. Have participated on the launch of operations in new markets, and re-engineered the back office in several countries.
Experience Designed and led the development and deployment internal ERP system for Pepsi used in On-Premise/Vending in 13 markets.
Designed 2 handheld systems, the latest is now deployed in 4 markets internationally.
Re-engineered the back office functions (settlements, despatch, invoicing, credit control, etc) for over 20 snack, confectionary and beverage operators.
Developing software: Progress, VB, Access, C, Sybase, SA
Organizations Innovative-Selling Solutions
Publications BudapestSun
Education/Credentials State University of New York - BA Economics
NYU - Courant - Graduate work - Computing
Past/Present clients PepsiAmericas
PepsiCola International
PepsiCola Company
British Steel
British Telecom
Britvic (Pepsi's bottler in the UK)
AT&T
BellSouth
Mars Overseas Bottling
Pepsi France
Matutano (Frito-Lay Spain)
Frito-Lay
Pepsi Foods International
Chase Manhattan Bank
Kidder Peabody
National Power
SmithKline Beecham
Mars Overseas Bottling (Pepsi Azerbaijan)
A&P Bottling (Pepsi Serbia & Montenegro)
Iberia Bottlers (Pepsi Georgia)
Question Hello, this is an interesting question, even out of the ordinary, I hope
you find it as almost fascinating as I have!
Can a beverage importer/distiller/bottler "hide" behind the label he puts
on his product? Is there some reason that one would do this? For example,
many big name businesses like Early Times, Seagrams, etc. put their complete
info on the product eg web page, phones, email etc. But apparently others
are as vague and unreachable as possible! Is there a way to locate this type
of business when one knows only his name and "city of business"? When I
try all the numerous routes to locate "him", I find nothing! even the chamber
of commerces know nothing! The stores selling this product are as dumb as
a brick as well, and on and on.
That is part one of my question (general in nature); part two:
This company is called J. Harrison Importers and Bottlers, in Mira Loma
California or possibly J. Harrison Distilling Products Ltd. Tustin CA.
The product (rums and whiskeys etc.) is called "Prestige" (brand name)
and is found at Gelsons, Ralphs, Vons etc. It gets delivered by truck
obviously, so it must come from somewhere!! But this somewhere seems
to be "in print" only!!
Even the big private label company Daymon Worldwide knows of them,
but has no knowledge as to how to reach them eg., phone number, web site,
street address, email, etc.!!! Yet, even the new labeled bottles say
J. Harrison Co, Mira Loma, CA!!
Do you have any idea what is going on here? advice? maybe it is quite
simple, and I am just "missing" the obvious? thanx, Bob Mackey
Thousand Oaks, CA binarybob@verizon.net
Answer Well, this is outside of my area... But like you I am curious. I could find references to both Gelson and Prestige, and indirectly Harrison.
Why however they don't have websites, registrations etc. is beyond me. For alcohol, the taxes must be paid (whether imported or domestic), and I would think that the address had better be valid. In general, these smaller distillers and brewers, etc. work through local distributors. Why not try to track down the local distributor.
Many of these companies are boutique. They are into brewing the product, hoping to get distribution - sometimes selling their whole vintage to traders. They probably invest more heavily in equipment, land, bottles and storage than worrying about their internet websites; and I suspect with Rum it's an industry of like 20 big guys and then 1000s of artisans.
So being difficult to track down isn't that ominous, it's just a case of the future being here, just not evenly distributed.
I suspect if you contacted the local chamber of commerce in Mira Loma, or authorities (isn't it something like ATF with whom they have to be registered - you should see a license number on the bottles), and you'd find the guy.
So missing the obvious? Probably more a question of what is, or isn't important. I expect J Harrison isn't expecting repeat sales (read into that what you may); and probably he's succeeding by being hard to find!
