The Managing Partners of GBS Growth Partners have over 110 years combined experience in the food and beverage industry. Our experience encompasses all functional areas including Strategic Planning, Sales, Distribution, Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain, and Funding. We also have a team of Advisors who assist us company on an ongoing basis.
Managing Partners
John Blackington has over 30 years experience, both as the owner of his own company and as a senior executive for several leading food and beverage companies, including The Coca-Cola Company. He has helped jumpstart a number of successful new brands in critical areas to include building sales and distribution systems, expanding retail availability, developing equity strategies and sourcing capital. He has developed the 'Smart Equity' Project, an innovative way of partnering beverage startups with major beverage companies to create synergy and leverage. He has a passion for helping entrepreneurs reach commercial success. John received his BS and MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Jack Brennan has over 27 years in the food and beverage industry as a global executive with Fortune 500 companies, an entrepreneur and a CEO of early stage (domestic/international) companies. His experience spans senior executive positions with The Coca-Cola Company, Host Marriot Services, and G. Heileman Brewing. He has founded/managed his own firm, BC Beverage Group LLC and has been CEO of four early stage beverage companies, three having achieved a timely exit strategy. Jack has a thorough knowledge of all functional areas of the food and beverage business with particular strength in strategic planning, business development, sales, distribution and operations. He has extensive experience raising capital (equity and debt) and has well established relationships with many influential consumer products focused private equity firms in the US. Jack received his BS in Business from Boston College.
Gordon Hill has over 30 years experience in the beverage industry, holding senior management positions at both The Coca-Cola Company and the Dr. Pepper Company. He is a specialist in establishing optimal routes to marketvia Direct Store Delivery, Direct and Hybrid distribution systems. He has hands-on experience in distribution management, logistics, customer/channel contact development and market operational planning. Gordon received his BA from the University of Texas Arlington.
Advisors
John Launder is a senior executive with over thirty years of experience in a wide array of disciplines in the beverage industry. He has worked with both large companies and start- ups, and has extensive sales, operations, marketing and general management experience with multiple companies, including The Coca-Cola Company. John has started several successful businesses including Sprite Bottling of Southwest, a distributor that marketed multiple brands across Texas. In addition to being an Advisor for GBS, John is currently an adjunct instructor in Business Strategy and Planning at the University of Arkansas. John has a strong background in marketplace execution and excellence. He received his B.A. from Westminster College and a M.A. from University of Missouri.
George McQuarrie is a sales and marketing professional who has held management positions with some of America's most prestigious consumer packaged goods companies including Procter and Gamble, The Coca-Cola Company and the Clorox company. With over 20 years in the industry, his expertise includes the development of brands in key trade channels such as food stores, drug stores, mass merchandisers, schools, and the internet. He has led high performance sales teams in developing broker and distribution networks and has developed many brands in the Caribbean and Latin American markets.
Mike Prete, is an accomplished entrepreneurial executive with expertise in financial and supply chain management. Mike has been the head of finance for several early stage beverage companies. He is particularly knowledgeable in business and financial modeling and has created many highly effective business plans for early stage businesses. Mike is a graduate of the University of Maryland where he received a BS in Accounting and Marketing; Member of University Honors Program.
Gerry Vetter has over 37 years of supply chain, procurement and logistics experience in the beverage industry. He has held leadership positions as well as assisted in the creation and refinement of the procurement function within major companies like Schlitz, Taylor Wine and the Coca-Cola system. Gerry provides insight into ingredient sourcing, packaging materials and production capability. He has been involved in all facets of new product development, from concept to market. Most recently he helped BYB Brands, one of today's fastest growing new beverage companies, develop their co-packing and logistics system. His strengths in sourcing production locations, co-packers, understanding ingredient outlets and assessing packaging alternatives are unsurpassed in the beverage industry. He delivers superior operational economics, quality and performance for the emerging beverage company.