Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits has completed its acquisition of Eagle Rock Distributing’s Colorado business, further strengthening its position in the rapidly consolidating US beverage distribution sector.
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits has completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Eagle Rock Distributing Co.’s Colorado operations, expanding its beer, spirits and non-alcoholic drinks portfolio in one of the country’s fastest-growing beverage markets.
The transaction gives Southern Glazer’s responsibility for distributing Anheuser-Busch’s portfolio in Colorado, including Michelob ULTRA, Budweiser, Bud Light and Busch Light, alongside brands such as Cutwater Spirits, NÜTRL Vodka Seltzer, BeatBox Beverages, Phorm Energy and a range of soft drinks and water brands.
Consolidation gathers pace
The acquisition is the latest example of consolidation across the US wholesale drinks sector as distributors seek greater scale and broader portfolios.
Wayne E. Chaplin, president and chief executive of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, said: “Closing this transaction is an important step in strengthening our total beverage capabilities in Colorado. Eagle Rock’s strong portfolio, talented team, and customer relationships make this a natural fit, and we’re excited to build on their success.”
Southern Glazer’s said the acquisition strengthens its route-to-market capabilities across Colorado while expanding the range of products available to customers throughout the state.
The company will continue operating from Eagle Rock’s existing facilities while immediately beginning distribution of supplier products across the territory.
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Leadership appointments
To oversee the enlarged Colorado business, Southern Glazer’s has appointed Jeffrey Gerali as senior vice president and general manager of Southern Glazer’s Beverage Company of Colorado.
Gerali joins from Anheuser-Busch, where he most recently served as senior commercial director, having previously held sales leadership roles at PepsiCo.
Jason Charboneau has also been appointed senior vice president of sales for the Colorado operation after previously leading the beer and non-alcoholic division at Southern Glazer’s Beverage Company of Nevada.
Mark Chaplin, president of commercial sales at Southern Glazer’s, said: “This acquisition enhances our ability to serve customers with a broader portfolio across key growth categories. Together with Eagle Rock’s strong market presence, we’re well positioned to create new opportunities for suppliers and customers throughout Colorado.”
Mike Economos, president of Eagle Rock Distributing Co., added: “We’re proud of the business our Colorado team has built and are confident Southern Glazer’s is the right organisation to carry it forward. Their scale, expertise, and commitment to partnership will support continued success in the market for suppliers and customers.”
Industry reshaping
The deal comes as the US wholesale drinks industry continues to undergo significant restructuring.
As previously reported by the drinks business, Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) recently entered Chapter 11 proceedings after months of selling operations across multiple states, with the distributor confirming that interested parties are continuing discussions over the acquisition of its remaining markets.
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