Wholesaler of the Year

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Wholesaler of the Year: Andrews Distributing

Texas beer distributor wins with great offense, customer-centric focus

September 2, 2020

Founded in 1976, Andrews Distributing has been selected as BI’s 2020 Wholesaler of the Year because of its rich history; its strong customer-centric philosophy and use of emerging technology to elevate the needs of retailers and its shoppers; a commitment to sustainability; and a willingness to go the extra mile to help its customers and community.

Southern Glazers Wine and Spirits Executives.

2019 Wholesaler of the Year: Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits

Multi-family beverage distributor grows footprint by local execution

Barbara Harfmann

September 10, 2019

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It can be rare in the increasingly competitive wine and spirits world to get a fresh start, but that’s exactly what happened three years ago when two family owned, multigenerational mega distributors of alcohol beverages — Southern Wine & Spirits and Glazer’s — joined forces to become Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (SGWS).

2018 Wholesaler of the Year: Hand Family Companies

Multi-state beer, beverage distributor continues growing

Barbara Harfmann

October 24, 2018

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Now in operation for nearly 70 years, the Hand Family Companies, Clarksville, Tenn., has grown from humble beginnings to becoming a multi-state beer and beverage distributor operating seven plants in three states, Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois.

2017 Wholesaler of the Year: Grey Eagle Distributors

Midwest beverage distributor diversifies portfolio

Barbara Harfmann

September 15, 2017

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Its rich history, diversified portfolio and commitment to providing best-in-class service to its customers are among the reasons that Grey Eagle Distributors is Beverage Industry’s 2017 Wholesaler of the Year.

2016 Wholesaler of the Year: Manhattan Beer Distributors

Beer distributor continues growing diverse portfolio of beers

Amanda Del Buono

September 12, 2016

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Originally operating out of a 4,000-square-foot warehouse and running a fleet of three delivery trucks, Bronx, N.Y.-based Manhattan Beer Distributors has become one of the largest beer distributors in the United States.

2015 Wholesaler of the Year: Andrews Distributing Co.

Texas beer distributor expands portfolio, facilities

Jessica Jacobsen

September 11, 2015

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In 1976, the United States was celebrating its bicentennial, the National Basketball Association and the American Basketball Association agreed to a merger, and the CN Tower was built in Toronto, making it the tallest free-standing land structure at the time.

2014 Wholesaler of the Year: The Odom Corp.

Beverage wholesaler credits community connection with success

Jessica Jacobsen

September 11, 2014

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With a distribution territory that spans parts of Washington state, Idaho, Oregon and all of Alaska, one might wonder how The Odom Corp., Bellevue, Wash., has excelled throughout the years while dealing with factors like challenging weather climates and a broad territorial footprint.

2013 Wholesaler of the Year: Louis Glunz Beer Inc.

Craft and import beers shine in distributor’s portfolio

Jessica Jacobsen

September 10, 2013

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With a company history dating back to 1888, Louis Glunz Beer Inc. has been in business long enough to see the beer industry transform around it.

2012 Wholesaler of the Year Silver Eagle Distributors

Beer distributor uses marketing, broad portfolio to reach demographics

September 12, 2012

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Most of the time, change doesn’t happen overnight. But in the case of Silver Eagle Distributors, its acquisition of BudCo Ltd. in 2007 catapulted its business in an instant.

2011 Wholesaler of the Year: Wirtz Beverage Group

Wine and spirits distributor expands portfolio, facilities

Jessica Jacobsen

September 12, 2011

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With annual sales of more than $1.9 billion, Wirtz Beverage Group is making strides toward its vision of becoming the leading premium total beverage alcohol wholesaler in the United States by Dec. 31, 2012. Beverage Industry’s Wholesaler of the Year is now in its third and fourth generations of leadership and has gone through a rebranding process in order to unify its divisions in Illinois, Wisconsin, Nevada, Minnesota and Iowa.