Southern Glazer’s to Acquire Anheuser-Busch’s New York City Distribution Operation
On Wednesday, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits announced that it reached an agreement with Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI) to acquire its New York City distribution operation. With its expanded reach, Southern Glazer’s — the largest wine and spirits distributor in the U.S. — plans to launch a new division: the Southern Glazer’s Beverage Company of New York, which will cover Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx. The transaction is expected to officially close later this year.
The move comes just a few months after ABI terminated its partnership with Republic National Distributing Co. (RNDC) in California (before the distributor pulled out of the state entirely) and transitioned all spirits brand rights to Southern Glazer’s in the state. Now ABI is furthering its relationship with the company, handing off its wholesale distribution network in NYC with the goal of strengthening its presence in the Big Apple.
In partnering with ABI — the manufacturer behind Michelob Ultra, Busch Light, Budweiser, Bud Light, and fast-growing RTD brand Cutwater Spirits — Southern Glazer’s is significantly increasing its presence in the beer and RTD categories.
“We could not be more excited to expand our business with Anheuser-Busch, the leading brewer and malt beverage supplier in the industry and an emerging leader in spirits and energy drinks, by acquiring their owned New York City distribution operation,” Southern Glazer’s president and CEO Wayne Chaplin said in a press release. “We look forward to welcoming all current employees at this location to the Southern Glazer’s team and working together to grow these iconic brands.”
The new Southern Glazer’s total beverage division will be led by Devyn Dugger, 20-year veteran of the Anheuser-Busch independent beer wholesaler network, in the role of senior vice president of the New York Beverage Division. Upon closure of the transaction, Southern Glazer’s plans to retain all of Anheuser-Busch’s Bronx-based employees, and continue to use the existing Bronx facility to distribute ABI products.
“We are confident this move will strengthen our business and we are excited to work together with Southern Glazer’s to continue to provide world-class service to our retail customers and consumers across New York City,” Simon Wuestenberg, chief sales officer of Anheuser-Busch added in the statement.
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