Molly Ridgway, Senior Distributor Sales Executive
Company: Molson Coors Beverage Company
How did you get into the beer business? I was fortunate enough to take an internship with Miller Brewing Co, in summer 2006, during my junior year at Georgetown. I worked in Baltimore, MD, on a project related to AMPPS, availability, merchandising, pricing, promotion, and space. I was offered a full-time position heading into senior year and start shortly after graduation. The rest is history.
How long have you worked for your company? I’m coming up to 15 years from when I interned; time flies when you are having fun and selling beer!
What does your current position entail? I’m the main point of contact for my wholesalers, both Kramer Beverage and Standard Distributing in DE. I deal with everything from sales, pricing, marketing, local programming, and chain execution. A jack of all things Molson Coors!
What does it take to excel in your position? Flexibility. Willingness to take risks. Leadership. Things change every day, sometimes multiple times a day, so I think the biggest skills in this role are the ability to be flexible and adapt to new challenges, always willing to take a risk to move the business forward, and the leadership and strategic vision to develop our portfolio within the market. There are a lot of great beers, seltzers, and FMBs, so to excel, I have to lead from the front to keep Molson Coors brands top of mind.
What other positions have you held in the company or beer business? I have worked in a variety of roles across different geographies for Molson Coors; as on-premise sales manager, craft and import sales manager, business analyst, craft and import marketing manager, and distributor sales manager.
What has been the best thing about your job? The people and the brands, hands down. The beer business is one of the best businesses in the world to work in; fun, challenging, exciting, and very competitive. But it’s the people that I have met who are a second family that really stands out. The fact that I can come work with amazing people AND drink phenomenal brands, makes it the best!
What areas do you service? Southern New Jersey and Delaware
Where do you live? Marlton, NJ
Tell us about your family: I have been married to my husband Justin for 10 years, and we have three kids, Taylor, 7, Jameson, 5, and Collins, 3.
What do you like to do when you’re not at work? Three kids keep us more than busy, but outside of the kids, I love a good CrossFit workout bright and early everyday. I’m currently training for the Escape the Cape Triathlon in June, and we spend the balance of our free time in Wildwood Crest and Cape May on the beach.
What is your favorite beer? I’m a faithful Miller Lite drinker, but really into seltzers, and Coors Seltzer is my go to! Can’t wait for Orange Cream Pop to debut in June!
About Kramer Beverage
Kramer Beverage is South Jersey’s largest beer wholesaler, owned and operated by four generations of the Kramer family since 1924. Kramer Beverage is based out of Hammonton, Atlantic County, and services eight counties in southern New Jersey with top brands from MillerCoors, Constellation, Yuengling, Boston Beer, Heineken USA, Pabst, Diageo, FIFCO, and more. Kramer Beverage also distributes a wide variety of craft beers, from suppliers such as New Belgium and Sierra Nevada, to local favorites including Flying Fish, Double Nickel, Evil Genius, Glasstown, Sly Fox, and 2SP. For more information on Kramer Beverage, please visit www.kramerbev.com.