BevMo!: Unions Making Inaccurate and Misleading Statements to Employees

CONCORD, Calif., Aug. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- BevMo!, one of the country's leading alcoholic beverage-lifestyle superstore retailers, today addressed the numerous inaccurate and misleading public statements being made about the company by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 5 (UFCW 5).  

"Despite some of the most difficult economic times our country, our state and our company have ever faced, we at BevMo! have always considered our employees first.  We pride ourselves on providing our employees with competitive wages and benefits, and on investing in our employees' training and careers," said Alan Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of BevMo!  "It is categorically untrue that we have cut healthcare benefits or suspended our 401(k) plan – we continue to offer those benefits to our employees who are eligible and have enrolled in the plans.  We are disappointed that the UFCW 5 has chosen to mislead our employees in this way."

Numerous inaccurate claims are being made. Below are the facts:

• Today BevMo! has over 500 full-time employees who are offered healthcare benefits and access to a 401(k) plan.
• Some employees have had their hours reduced as BevMo! ensures its business is better positioned to provide good service to its customers and weather the economic storm.  
• BevMo! continues to offer healthcare benefits to those employees whose hours have been reduced.  If those employees participated in the 401(k) plan, then the company continues to offer them access to that plan.  

It is disappointing that the UFCW has felt they need to use misinformation in an attempt to increase their own membership and membership dues.  BevMo! believes that the UFCW's agenda is contrary to the best interests of BevMo! employees and customers.  BevMo! will not be deterred by the UFCW's tactics and will continue to focus on its employees and customers.

About BevMo!  

Beverages & More is the leading alcoholic beverage-lifestyle superstore retailer in the western United States and among the largest in the country. With 104 stores, typically 10,000 square feet, in well-trafficked retail areas in major metropolitan markets in California and Arizona, BevMo! provides a uniquely friendly and welcoming environment for competitively priced wine, beer, spirits, non-alcoholic beverages and "goes with" products such as specialty foods and snacks, cigars, glassware and related bar and wine accessories. BevMo.com, the #1 bricks and clicks beverage-lifestyle website, enables customers to purchase items online for shipping to home or office, or for pickup within an hour from their local store.

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Lydia Chan  (415) 671-7676

SOURCE BevMo!