Nick Fede Jr., Executive Director, Rhode Island Liquor Operators Collaborative.

By Nick Fede, Jr., Director, Rhode Island Liquor Operators Collaborative

What a busy first half of the year we have had! By the time this article is published, the Rhode Island legislative session SHOULD be over. Expect a full legislative update regarding the 2025 session in the August edition of The Beverage Journal.

On June 2, the Rhode Island Liquor Operators Collaborative (RILOC) hosted our second annual Golf Classic at Cranston Country Club. This 120-person-plus event was spearheaded by RILOC Board Member Nicole Gasbarro and brought together partners from all three industry tiers, including both on- and off-premise retailers. We are extremely grateful to our wholesale and supplier partners who helped make this event such a success. Jan and Mary Malik, who recently retired, were honored with the 2024 American Beverage Licensees (ABL) Retailer of the Year for Rhode Island, which was presented by Congressman Gabe Amo. Stay tuned for full coverage of the event.

The deadline is quickly approaching to register for the 2025 ABL Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas. Last year, our hosts, the Texas Package Stores Association (TPSA), rolled out the red carpet for attendees from across the country. The TPSA Convention & Trade Show, which sported more than 5,000 attendees, was a three-day event that showcased everything our industry has to offer.

The 2025 ABL Annual Meeting takes place
July 26-28 at the Kimpton Santo Hotel in San Antonio, Texas.

The weekend launched on a perfect note with the Cork Pull Wine Tasting, which featured over 500 different wines. The 65,000-square-foot TPSA Trade Show was mostly spirits focused and showcased more than 2,000 different products. Following the Trade Show, convention attendees converged on Devils River Distillery for the Afterglow Party, which included a performance by George Strait’s Ace in the Hole Band. Expect a similar jam-packed agenda for this year’s convention.

ABL Executive Director John Bodnovich shared the following message:
Momentum is building for the 2025 ABL Annual Meeting, set to take place July 26-28 at the Kimpton Santo Hotel in San Antonio, Texas.

With more speakers announced and networking hospitality events featuring a wide range of industry products, beverage licensees from across the country are encouraged to make plans now to join ABL and their industry colleagues for the year’s most important event focused on independent alcohol retailers.

Industry-leading speakers and timely sessions will offer valuable insights into the key issues facing on- and off-premise alcohol retailers. Highlights include:

• “Changes, Threats & Opportunities: The Evolving Beverage Alcohol Industry” featuring Mark Brown, Executive Chairman of Sazerac Company
• “THC Beverages in Focus: Trends, Policy & Retail Impacts” featuring Diana Eberlein, Chair of the Coalition for Adult Beverage Alternatives
• “Navigating Headwinds in a Shifting Economic Climate” featuring Andrew Heritage, Chief Economist for the Beer Institute
• “Beverage Retailers Policy Outlook” featuring ABL Executive Director John Bodnovich

Additional speakers will be announced soon, adding more valuable content to the program for attendees. In addition to ABL Annual Meeting events and hospitality, attendees are also invited to participate in the TPSA Trade Show and other hospitality events taking place as part of the 78th annual TPSA Convention & Trade Show, including the Cork Pull and Afterglow Party. Registration is open now through July 21. For the latest updates and information on the 2025 ABL Annual Meeting, please visit ablusa.org.

I will say that last year’s ABL Annual Meeting and Convention was a galvanizing event for all who attended. This year’s edition is sure to be just as impactful. I’m excited about the work ahead of us here in Rhode Island and throughout the country when it comes to independent beverage alcohol retail. We are ready for you to come join us for the ride.

Nick Fede Jr. serves as RILOC’s Executive Director, American Beverage Licensees’ Vice President (Off-Premise) and is a third-generation liquor retailer.