Wirtz Beverage has new senior VP

Kevin Roberts has taken the post of senior vice president of Wirtz Beverage Nevada and has set about the task of making it better known in the area.

Already one of the state's largest liquor distributors, Chicago-based Wirtz is still known by many as DeLuca Wine and Spirits, even though Wirtz officially dropped the name two years ago along with Silver State Liquor & Wine. Roberts said that retailers to whom Wirtz sells like to see community involvement and name recognition among distributors.

Wirtz, which claims 40 percent of the Nevada liquor market, purchased DeLuca in 1977, with operations directed since then by Ray Norvell. Norvell will step into the post of vice chairman.

Wirtz Beverage Nevada now employs about 600 people and generates revenues of about $330 million.