
The Indian American Package Store Association of Connecticut (IAPSACT) celebrated the Hindu holiday Diwali with a dinner for more than 600 of its members, family, friends, suppliers and wholesalers at The Woodwinds in Branford on Nov. 17. In its third year, the celebration was held to commemorate the annual festival of lights and thank members for their support, with a formal dinner, drinks and dancing with music by Ritesh Rathod of Medley Entertainment. Beverage selections from the evening came from a variety of sponsor distributors, including Allan S. Goodman; Brescome Barton; Connecticut Distributors, Inc.; Eder Bros., Inc.; Martignetti Companies; Monsieur Touton Selection, Ltd.; Murphy Distributors; Opici Family Distributing; Slocum & Sons; Skurnik Wines & Spirits; and Votto Vines among them. Supplier sponsors included Brown-Forman, Constellation Brands, Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, Diageo, Gallo, Jackson Family Wines, Moët Hennessey, Palm Bay International, Pernod Ricard, Sovereign Brands, Smoke Lab Vodka and William Grant & Sons.
- The Indian American Package Store Association of Connecticut (IAPSACT) celebrated the Hindu holiday Diwali with a dinner for more than 600 of its members, family, friends, suppliers and wholesalers at The Woodwinds in Branford on Nov. 17.
- Ritesh Shah, Sales Representative, Eder Bros., Inc.; Abhin Sheth, Spokesperson, Advisory Committee, IAPSACT; Akie Smythe, CT Market Manager, Brown-Forman; and Guest.
- The Connecticut Distributors, Inc. (CDI), team with Ranchod Patel (second from left), Century Package Store.
- IAPSACT Members Manisha Patel, Krupa Shah, Rinku Shah, Anuja Shah, Pooja Shah, Mansi Parikh, Hetal Shah and Dharvi Parikh.
- All of the IAPSACT Board except where indicated: Abhin Sheth, Spokesperson, Advisory Committee; Girish Patel, Executive Director; Manisha Patel, Board Member; Krupa Shah, Board Member; Manish Modi, Board Member; Sen. Rick Lopes; Harry Patel, President, Executive Committee; Jay Shah, Secretary, Executive Committee; Sanjay Shah, Vice President; Raj Modi, Board Member; and Hitesh Patel, Board Member, Working Committee. Back Row: Sagar Kalola, Treasurer; Nish Patel, Board Member; Rashmi Patel, Board Member; and Jaydatt Vyas, Board Member.
- Guests with Sen. Rick Lopes lighting the Diwali candle: Harry Patel, President, Executive Committee, IAPSACT; Rashmi Patel, Board Member, IAPSACT; Jay Shah, Secretary, Executive Committee, IAPSACT; Sanjay Shah, Vice President, IAPSACT.
- Girish Patel, Executive Director, IAPSACT.
- Harry Patel, President, Executive Committee, IAPSACT.
- All of IAPSACT: Raj Modi, Board Member; Harry Patel, President, Executive Committee; and Ray Patel, Board Member.
- Jim Hunyadi, Sales, CDI and Guest.
- Karl Koenig, Sales, Allan S. Goodman; Paresh Patel, Oakland Liquor Store; and Morgan Marshall, District Manager, Allan S. Goodman.
- Paul Puhalla, VP of Sales, CDI with Manish Modi, Board Member, IAPSACT.
- All of Eder Bros., Inc.: Bill Barford, District Manager; Henry Lavado, District Sales Manager; and Ed Weissauer, General Market Sales Manager.
- Rashmi Patel, Oxford Liquors; Steve Lentz, Brescome Barton; Ray Patel, Valley Discount Wine & Liquor; Tom Taylor, Worldwide Wines; and Guest.
- Mark Perry, Regional Sales Manager, Opici Family Distributing; Kerry Perry; Candice Dritschler; and Gary Dritschler, CT State Manager, Campari America.
- Jignesh Patel, Jay’s Market; Guest; and Jim Hunyadi, Sales, CDI.
- Sen. Rick Lopes; Rashmi Patel, Board Member, IAPSACT; and Brooks Campion, Lobbyist, Robinson+Cole.
- Arun Lillaney, Board Member, IAPSACT; Harry Patel, President, Executive Committee, IAPSACT; Guest; Mark Perry, Regional Sales Manager, Opici Family Distributing; Kerry Perry; Karishma Lillaney, Board Member, IAPSACT; and Mrs. Khatri, Kings Wines & Liquors.
- Raj Modi, Board Member, IAPSACT; J. Stephen Lentz, General Sales Manager and Director, Brescome Barton; Tom Taylor, District Manager, Worldwide Wines; Harry Patel, President, Executive Committee, IAPSACT; Phil Bellaview, Director, Sterling Division Brescome Barton; Abhin Sheth, Spokesperson, Advisory Committee, IAPSACT; and Pradyuman Patel, Board Member, IAPSACT.
- Kevin Mahon, Division Sales Director, CDI; Nish Patel, Board Member, IAPSACT; Guest; Mihir Shah, Pit Stop Spirit Shop; and Bryon Thayer, Sales, CDI.
- Harry Patel, President, Executive Committee, IAPSACT; Yogesh Patel, Guilford Wine Company; and Jay Shah, Secretary, Executive Committee, IAPSACT.
- All of IAPSACT except where indicated: Jaydatt Vyas, Board Member; Sagar Kalola, Board Member; Akash Kalola, Board Member; Ranchod Patel, Century Package Store; Rashmi Patel, Board Member; Sanjay Shah, Vice President; and Jay Shah, Secretary.
Photos by Adarsh.