How the Absolut Spirits Company, LLC stole Charity Mixology. On November 1, 2007, Charity Group met with senior executives from Absolut Vodka at Absolut's offices at 401 Park Avenue South, New York City. The Absolut Vodka attendees included Simon Ford (Absolut's Senior Vice President for Marketing), Tim Mister, Troy Gorczyca, Terry Wake, Sara Bessette, and Andrea Bearbover (collectively the "Absolut Vodka Executives").
At the start of the meeting, before disclosing Confidential Information, and in exchange for the opportunity to learn about and participate in Charity Mixology, Talbot and Charity Group required the Absolut Vodka Executives to execute the Agreements. After studying the Agreements, they did execute them.
Talbot then made a presentation in which he emphasized the power of exposing the beverage industry and consumers to the demonstration, use and endorsement of Absolut products through reality TV. He provided detailed Confidential Information about Charity Group's concept and strategies, specific sponsorship and product placement opportunities, financial and revenue projections, production costs, and similar competitively sensitive details.
At no point during that meeting did any of the Absolut Executives – who had only minutes before studied and signed the Agreements – stop Talbot and inform him that Absolut Vodka already had a reality TV program in development or under consideration.
To the contrary, the Absolut Executives enthusiastically expressed interest in participating in Charity Mixology. Simon Ford, Absolut's "Senior Mixologist," told Talbot that he viewed the Charity Mixology series as a great opportunity for branding and promoting Absolut Vodka through product placement. Ford expressed his excitement that Charity Mixology could benefit both Absolut and non-profit organizations globally, and he offered to assist in casting bartenders.
ABSOLUT VODKA, IT'S UN-AMERICAN !
Corporations Pernod Ricard and Absolut Vodka don't care about values.
There are gaps in this country, deep chasms that need to be bridged, between rich and poor, between Government and the people, between security and feeling safe about the future, between what is real and what is not. Between right and 'Absolut' wrong.
Help fight the power that targets the powerless and support the lives of those who ABSOLUTELY need it most.
