The Backstory Behind E&J Gallo’s Acquisition of Barefoot Cellars

Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey built Barefoot Cellars to sales of more than 600,000 cases of wine per year when they got the attention of E&J Gallo, America’s largest winemaker.

Gallo was impressed with how quickly a $7 bottle of Barefoot moved off retailers’ shelves and were intrigued by Barefoot’s use of grassroots sponsorship to grow a national brand. Rather than compete with Barefoot, Gallo decided to buy the business. In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Why the best goals are often set for you
  • How to use distributors to win the attention of an acquirer
  • The difference between a vanity and a strategic buyer
  • The single most important thing you need to do before you put your business up for sale
  • How to create a silent auction for your company

Listen now

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