Cheers

Cheers

The Beverage Business Magazine for Full-Service Restaurants and Bars

  • Beverage Trends
    • Beer
    • Wine
    • Spirits
    • Wine Reviews
    • Marketing
    • Operations
  • Recipes
    • What I’m Drinking Now
    • Submit a Drink Recipe
  • Resources
    • eRNDC Login
    • SG Proof Login
    • CORE: Children of Restaurant Employees
  • Events & Awards
    • Cheers Beverage Summit
    • Growth Brands
    • BevX Awards
    • Supplier Awards
  • Podcasts
  • E-News
    • E-News Subscribe
  • Digital Issues
  • Cheers@Home

DISCUS, Pronghorn Partner to Improve DEI in Spirits

05/24/2022

by: Melissa Dowling

DISCUS logo

The Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. (DISCUS) and the DEI-focused company Pronghorn on May 17 announced a partnership to increase hiring from within the Black community among leading spirits suppliers. 

According to Pronghorn research, while Black Americans represent 12% of alcohol consumers across categories, they make up just 7.8% of the sector’s labor force and 2% of executives in the industry. To address the employment gap, Pronghorn seeks to gain commitments from suppliers, distributors and retailers to fill 1,800 roles within the industry during the next ten years.

Pronghorn is a standalone company focused on cultivating the next generation of Black entrepreneurs, executive leaders and founders within the spirits industry. The organization was co-founded by spirits industry veterans Dia Simms, Erin Harris and Dan Sanborn.

This initiative, led by Pronghorn and in partnership with DISCUS and DISCUS Members, seeks to identify qualified candidates from within the Black community to fill positions from internships to the executive level in the distilled spirits industry and associated roles. Available positions will be posted on Pronghorn.co/careers and the career pages of participating spirits suppliers.

“With this first of its kind, industry-wide initiative, Pronghorn and DISCUS will correct the imbalance of underrepresented groups to reflect the market we serve,” says Simms. “We are focused on granting access and removing barriers that have put Black people and other communities of color at a disadvantage when it comes to ownership, investing or just working within the spirits industry in general.” 

Victoria Russell, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Beam Suntory, adds, “As Chair of the DISCUS DEI Committee, I’m proud and inspired by our collective efforts to increase representation and drive measurable change among distilled spirits suppliers and ensure equitable opportunities for Black talent within the industry.”

Advertisement

In 2021, Diageo North America became an anchor investor in Pronghorn and committed dedicated resources to provide a set of industry expertise to help Pronghorn’s investments in Route to Market strategies, trade and brand marketing, supply chain and manufacturing, among other disciplines.

The company’s participation in Pronghorn is part of a broader program within Diageo North America supporting diverse communities, including $10 million in permanent endowments across 25 Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the U.S. and awarding grants in cities to help hospitality industry businesses adjust to COVID-19 requirements.

Aspiring spirits industry professionals can visit pronghorn.co for more information on current and future opportunities. They may also visit the career pages of participating DISCUS Member suppliers, including Bacardi, Beam Suntory, Brown-Forman, Campari Group, CIE, Constellation Brands, DIAGEO, Edrington, Hotaling, Jägermeister, MGP, MHW, Moet Hennessy USA, Ole Smoky, Pernod Ricard, Remy Cointreau, William Grant & Sons and Uncle Nearest and Old Dominick.

“In addition to working hand-in-hand with Pronghorn to achieve equal representation for the Black community, DISCUS has developed educational content, available through the DISCUS Academy, which provides resources and tools to further advance potential talent,” says Chris Swonger, president and CEO, DISCUS and Responsibility.org. “We are stronger together and will continue to support Pronghorn’s diversity initiatives by keeping pace with the rapid changes in the marketplace.”

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

DEI discus Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. diversity Pronghorn

Last modified: 06/08/2022

White Claw REFRSHR Hard Lemonade Previous Story:
White Claw Releases REFRSHR Hard Lemonade
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B522. Next Story:
Elijah Craig Unveils Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch B522

About the Author: Melissa Dowling

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Follow Us

Facebook
Twitter

In The News

  • KISS Celebrates 50th With Cold Gin Cocktail Special
  • Diageo Acquiring Don Papa Rum
  • San Francisco Cocktails Celebrate Mean Girls The Musical
  • NYC’s Mister Paradise Unveils New Menu
  • How Much Do Alcohol Consumers Care About Sustainability?
  • Podcast: Beverage Alcohol Trends For 2023
More News >>

Featured Drink

  • Red Dragon
    Red Dragon cocktail

Drink Recipes

  • A Round of Valentine’s Day Cocktails for 2023
  • Red Dragon
  • Year of the Rabbit
  • Viva Magenta Colored Cocktails
  • Winter White Sangria

Current Issue

Cheers Current Issue

Cheers Magazine

  • About Cheers
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • Market Research

Events & Awards

  • Beverage Excellence Awards
  • Cheers Beverage Summit
  • Growth Brands Awards

Magazines

  • Cheers
  • Beverage Dynamics
  • StateWays
  • Beverage Wholesaler
  • Beverage Handbooks (research)

E-Newsletters

  • Better Bartending
  • Cheers
  • Beverage Dynamics
  • StateWays
  • Beverage Wholesaler
  • Beverage Universe
  • Cannabis Regulator
  • About EPG Brand Acceleration
  • Send File
  • Privacy Policy
© Cheers Magazine. All rights reserved.