News

Uptown Wine Cocktails Voted Product of the Year 2021

Uptown Wine Cocktails, a premium, shareable, ready-to-drink cocktail, has been named Product of the Year for 2021. Product of the Year is the largest consumer-voted award for product innovation, chosen by 40,000 American shoppers in a national survey conducted by Kantar, a global leader in consumer research. Uptown Wine Cocktails has been awarded the top […]

BuzzBallz, LLC/Southern Champion begins year with several awards

Despite the tumultuous year 2020 was, BuzzBallz, LLC/Southern Champion was able to continue making an impact. Five of the company’s brands amassed awards for their performance last year. Nielsen, a world-renowned market research firm, presented BuzzBallz with a Silver Growth Award. This honor was given to brands that saw a 100,000 to 750,000 case growth […]

Uptown Cocktails Expand Shelf Presence in Target Nationwide

Though Uptown Cocktails was just launched last April, it has quickly gained lots of notoriety, winning several industry awards. Today, Uptown Cocktails are quickly becoming one of the best-selling large format wines in Target. Recently, the brand secured placement for Chocolatini, Margarita, Mango Margarita, Strawberry Margarita and Lemon Tea in the following states: AK, AL, […]

Hometown Love: Founder Merrilee Kick Chats with Local News in Helena, Montana

Though BuzzBallz CEO and founder, Merrilee Kick, is now living in North Texas to be near the headquarters in Carrollton, Texas, Montana is still her home, as well. This week, KRTV Great Falls, a news station local to Montana, aired an interview with Kick, exploring her upbringing in Helena and how it influenced her career […]

BuzzBallz, LLC/Southern Champion Named 28th Fastest Growing Company in DFW

On Sept. 9, BuzzBallz, LLC/Southern Champion was ranked No. 28 during the Dallas Business Journal’s Middle Market 50 2020 Awards. During this virtual ceremony, 50 North Texas companies were ranked according to the rate of growth each company experienced. This accolade marks significant growth as the company was ranked No. 47 in 2019, 19 positions […]

Uptown Cocktails wins awards in major trade outlets

Just months after Uptown Wine Cocktails’ initial launch, the line was named an Editor’s Pick in Progressive Grocer and our Chocolatini flavor was declared the winner in the “wine” category of Convenience Store News 2020 Best New Products Awards . This is a major feat as we join the ranks of many major contenders less […]

New members of the BuzzBallz, LLC/Southern Champion Team

As the demand for our products grow, we’ve added some members to the team to ensure quality, precision and forward thinking are always top of mind. Over the past few months, we’ve had a couple of additions in upper management. Bill Arends – Director of Logistics and Warehouse Operations Bill Arends spent 10 years working […]

Southern Champion Welcomes Uptown Wine Cocktails to the Family

Entertaining just got easier. Uptown Wine Cocktails, a premium, ready-to-drink cocktail expertly blended with all-natural ingredients, is gearing up to hit the shelves this spring. Crafted for the social butterfly with an aim to impress, this line of bold, fresh cocktails comes in six flavors – Lemon Tea, Ruby Red Grapefruit, Margarita, Strawberry Margarita, Mango […]

Crooked Fox Wins Gold Medal at Women’s Wine and Spirits Awards

Crooked Fox has just won one of the most important wine and spirits competitions in the world judged by women buyers – the Women’s Wine and Spirits Awards (WWSA). With women now buying 80 percent of wine, winning a Gold WWSA medal is highly impressive. The WWSA judges were dazzled by the caliber of wines […]

Crooked Fox served during Big Sky PBR

The Crooked Fox team made the trek to Big Sky, Montana to pass out samples of the whiskey during Big Sky PBR July 26 – 27. Bull riding fans travel from far and wide to attend the concerts, art auctions and fundraisers that lead up to the Touring Pro Division PBR bull riding that takes […]

Peak to Sky serves up Crooked Fox whiskey

Peak to Sky brings ’90s rock and Crooked Fox together

Along the mountains of Big Sky, Montana, some of the biggest names in rock music came together for a one-day music festival July 6, Peak to Sky, and Crooked Fox bourbon whiskeywas in the mix. Mike McCready, lead guitarist of the iconic ‘90s band, Pearl Jam, curated a lineup of artists which featured him and some of […]