Marvin Sands
Marvin L. Sands (1924 – 1999) was an American businessman, and the founder and CEO of Constellation Brands, a Fortune 500 beer, wine and spirits company.
Marvin Sands | |
|---|---|
| Born | Marvin L. Sands 1924 |
| Died | 1999 (aged 74–75) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Founder, Constellation Brands |
| Title | CEO, Constellation Brands |
| Term | 1945–1993 |
| Successor | Richard Sands |
| Parent(s) | Mordecai E. Sands |
| Relatives | Richard Sands Rob Sands |
Early life
Marvin Sands was the son of Mordecai E. Sands, who was a partner in a winery in Long Island City, Queens, New York since 1932.[1]
Sands earned a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as an ensign in the US Navy during World War II.[1]
Career
Sands founded the Canandaigua Wine Company in 1945 at age 21.[2]
Sands tried to establish a brand, and was unsuccessful with King Solomon kosher wine and an eponymous Sands brand.[1] In 1954 he produced a "flaming-red blend of dessert wine" called Richard's Wild Irish Rose, named after his son Richard,[3] and this grew to become more than 90% of their sales in the 1960s.[1]
By 1980, annual sales topped $50 million. The company was renamed Constellation Brands in 2000. It has acquired several companies including Robert Mondavi wine and Svedka vodka.[2]
Sands served as the company's CEO from its inception until 1993, when he was succeeded by his son Richard Sands.[4][5]
Personal life
Sands lived in Canandaigua, New York.[1]
References
- Fisher, Lawrence M. (31 August 1999). "Marvin Sands, Winery's Chairman, Dies at 75". Retrieved 16 April 2018 – via NYTimes.com.
- Kirsch, Noah. "How Two Brothers Built Their Family Wine Business Into A $40 Billion Alcohol Empire". forbes.com. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
- "Constellation sells lower-end wine, spirit brands to California winery for $1.7 billion". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved 2019-04-14.
- Cazentre, Don (2019-04-12). "Constellation Brands cuts ties with its Upstate NY legacy, Canandaigua Wine". newyorkupstate.com. Retrieved 2019-04-14.
- Maloney, Jennifer (2018-10-17). "Constellation CEO Rob Sands to Step Down From Corona Brewer". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2019-04-14.