Through years of industry insight and deep connection with her network, Deborah Brenner, Founder & CEO of Diverse Powered Brands recognized a clear gap: buyers looking for diverse-owned brands – driven by consumer demand – had no central source to discover them. At the same time, diverse suppliers making exceptional products were being overlooked due to lack of visibility, access, and resources.

To level the playing field, Diverse Powered Brands was founded not just as a digital directory, but as a 360-degree growth ecosystem for underrepresented suppliers in beverage alcohol. What began as a centralized discovery tool has evolved into a comprehensive incubator and accelerator, designed to drive awareness, connections, and commercial success for diverse-owned and -led brands.

Since 2021, Deborah and her team have collaborated across the three-tier system – working hand-in-hand with suppliers, wholesalers, retailers, marketers, and beverage alcohol attorneys – to ensure every element of the DPB experience supports supplier growth. From virtual pitch days and master classes to strategic marketing, platform visibility, and industry partnerships, DPB offers the tools, education, and access needed to scale.

The digital platform remains a critical element – fully three-tier compliant, secure, and designed with wholesaler input, but it’s only one part of the larger strategy. Today, DPB is a launchpad for emerging brands who are ready not just to be found, but to thrive.

Deborah continually engaged senior executives and requested feedback from companies such as Allied Beverage Group, Breakthru Beverage Group, Brown-Forman Corporation, Costco Wholesale, Diageo, Drizly, E. & J. Gallo Winery, H-E-B, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, Liberation Distribution (LibDib), Lobos 1707, Martignetti, MHW, Patina Restaurant Group, ReserveBar, Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC), Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (SGWS), Target, and Walmart.

WHAT POSTIVE IMPACT DOES DIVERSE POWERED BRANDS (DBP) PROVIDE?

 

  • DPB provides diverse brands  in the beverage alcohol industry with the tools, knowledge, and network they need to build successful, sustainable businesses.
  • DPB fosters a more connected and supported ecosystem for diverse start-ups, early-stage, and emerging brands in beverage alcohol – so no brand has to go it alone.
  • DPB serves as a hybrid sales tool that adds tremendous value to the three- tier system by providing buyers and wholesalers a seamless, easy, and informative way to discover diverse suppliers across all categories of the alcohol beverage industry on one platform.
  • Diverse Powered Brands addresses the importance of sourcing from diverse suppliers which in turn supports economic empowerment and inclusion, building strong economics and communities.
HOW DOES DIVERSE POWERED BRANDS ELEVATE BRAND EXPOSURE?
  • DPB supports diverse suppliers while in their incubation phase by providing valuable education and industry-specific resources and virtual master classes led by industry experts.
  • A centralized B2B digital platform provides suppliers a cost-effective marketing tool to extensively showcase their products and control their company and brand pages 24/7/365.
  • Suppliers are empowered to personalize their content, share robust brand stories supported by marketing messaging, assets, photos, bios, accolades, awards, and videos to differentiate themselves from competitors.
  • Standardized templated pages for all brands ensures equitable visibility regardless of their size or distribution status.
  • DPB in-person and virtual events provide diverse suppliers opportunities to showcase their products and pitch their brand to potential wholesalers, buyers, industry experts, and investors. (Example: June 28, 2023, Pitch Day at Target in Minneapolis)
HOW DOES DIVERSE POWERED BRANDS PROVIDE A SOLUTION FOR ON/OFF PREMISE?
  • Buyers are empowered to explore, discover and research diverse-owned, diverse-led and diverse-made brands across all bev alc categories 24/7/365 all on one platform.
  • A centralized B2B digital platform eliminates the need for buyers to visit multiple sources or websites to research and discover diverse brands making the process faster and more efficient.
  • DPB standardizes company information, product descriptions, fonts, images, videos with specifically designed templates for a more consistent experience. For companies that are certified as a diverse supplier, drop down to add type of certification, certification number and expiration date.
  • DPB includes resources that provide buyers with ideas on creating unique campaigns, LTO’s, activations, and promotions with the brands, satisfying their diverse consumers.
  • DPB is a trusted resource. Requires signed declaration form and annual renewal ensures that all diverse brand information is truthful and up to date.
  • Provides a resource for major corporations who have Supplier Diversity spend & goals. Read More.
HOW DOES DIVERSE POWERED BRANDS PROVIDE A SOLUTION FOR WHOLESALERS?
  • DPB creates new marketing opportunities for brands of all sizes, creating efficiencies for wholesalers integrating into their own ecommerce platforms.
  • Real-time, up-to-date brand data maintained by the suppliers reducing labor costs incurred by the wholesaler.
  • Comprehensive brand information makes it easy to create sales presentations helping sales representatives get more out of each selling opportunity.
  • Sales representatives have more resources available at their fingertips to sell more effectively without having to spend a lot of time gathering brand information.
  • Wholesalers are empowered to explore, discover and research new brands across all categories in the beverage alcohol industry 24/7/365 all on one platform.
  • For small and medium-sized wholesalers, DPB provides equity with a tool to keep up with the rapid pace of technological advancements.

Did you know?

BY 2025

companies expect more
than a 50% increase in their
diversity spend goals.

Source:
The Hackett Group’s 2021 Supplier Diversity Study

WOMEN-OWNED

businesses are currently the top
diversity category globally.

Source:
The Hackett Group’s 2021 Supplier Diversity Study

58%

of Americans consider themselves
conscious consumers, and
shoppers are becoming increasing
mindful of their purchases.

Source:
The Business Journals July 2021

ALMOST ONE-FIFTH

of Millennials also said diversity
influences where they spend their
money, such as with businesses owned
by women, LGBTQ+ individuals,
Black Americans and other
people of color.

Source:
TD Bank’s annual Consumer Spending Index 2021

GEN-Z

Are the Most Conscious Alcohol Consumers

Source:
Drizly

WOMEN

will pay more for or walk away from brands based on how they support the advancement of women.

Source:
Kearney 2020 Women Consumers Survey

About Deborah Brenner, Founder, Diverse Powered Brands™

Deborah Brenner is a trailblazing social entrepreneur renowned for her passion for women’s empowerment and social equality. As the Founder & CEO of Women of the Vine & Spirits®(WOTVS), the leading mission-driven global membership organization comprised of women and men committed to empowering and advancing women in the beverage alcohol industry, Deborah is dedicated to championing women in the workplace. She is a founding council member of 86 Harassment™, a WOTVS initiative uniting the beverage alcohol and hospitality industries to combat sexual harassment and gender-based violence.

Deborah also serves as President of the Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation 501(c)(3), which has awarded over $959,620 in scholarships since 2017, fostering career advancement through education and professional development. As the Founder of Diverse Powered Brands™, Deborah connects diverse suppliers, buyers, supplier diversity managers, wholesalers, importers, and investors across the entire beverage alcohol and hospitality industry. She is also the creator of Badass Bartender®, the first global community empowering women bartenders.

Through her innovative initiatives, Deborah continues to champion women and inspire meaningful change across the industry.

Deborah has received a Rising Star Award from Women for WineSense (2008), a New York Small Business Administration Women in Business Champion of the Year (2009), a New York City National Association of Women Business Owners Signature Award (2010), the Lillian Vernon Award for Outstanding Community Service by the Women's Enterprise Development Center (2011), a NY Women in Communications Rising Star Award (2013),  the Rockland Business Women's Network Woman of the Year Award (2014), American Cancer Society Dr. Louis Berger Award (2017), Wine Enthusiast Wine Star Award Person of the Year Nominee (2017), Las Vegas Inc. “Woman to Watch” (2018), Wine Enthusiast Wine Star Award “Social Visionary of the Year” Recipient (2018), University of Delaware Horn Entrepreneurship Honor Circle of Inspiring & Innovative Women 2021 Amber L. Glassman Inspiration Award (2021), Wine's Most Inspiring People by Wine Industry Advisor (2024), and the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States' Distinguished Service Award (2025).

For Media Inquiries, contact info@diversepoweredbrands.com