Over the past decade and a half, the craft explosion has forced distributors to develop entirely new skill sets to manage the vast array of new products — many of which require special handling to ensure quality isn’t compromised. To keep pace, many large wholesalers have launched specialty divisions that specifically deal with craft SKUs that demand more TLC.
But the modern market dynamic also has created the opportunity for small, boutique start-up distributors for which craft is their entire raison d’etre. Among those is BountyBev, an eight-year-old operation that delivers a growing number of craft beer brands throughout eight counties in the greater Nashville, Tenn., area.