Drizly Sells Minority Stake to Wholesaler Group

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BOSTON — An innovative technology company and an affiliate of the nation’s largest wine and spirits wholesaler association have formed a strategic alliance to accelerate the adoption of technologies enabling on-demand delivery within the three-tier U.S. beverage-alcohol industry. Drizly, the Boston, Mass.-based technology company powering a superior mobile shopping experience for beer, wine and spirits, and WSWA Services, LLC, an affiliate of the Washington, D.C.-headquartered Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) announced the collaboration today.

This strategic alliance unites decades of wine and spirits wholesaler experience with the dynamic technological changes that are reshaping the beverage-alcohol industry.

Drizly and WSWA Services established the strategic alliance to help expand the e-commerce company’s presence with retailer partners across the country, enabling Drizly to serve more consumers and to provide those consumers with unparalleled choice and convenience. Drizly will now have direct access to a network of industry experts—wholesalers—with long-standing, professional relationships at both the supplier and retailer levels, as well as support in navigating the regulatory environment and marketplace.

“Drizly’s strategic alliance with WSWA Services shows that technology can be the ally of mature, regulated industries like beverage alcohol—not a disruptor,” said Nick Rellas, the co-founder and CEO of Drizly.

“The vision for Drizly has always been to accelerate wholesalers, suppliers and retailers through the consumer’s shift to digital and mobile commerce. By joining forces with WSWA Services we take an important step forward in our mission to legally connect supply and demand.”

WSWA President and CEO Craig Wolf said, “WSWA Services’s strategic alliance with Drizly demonstrates the commitment of wholesalers to support next generation technology that will directly benefit consumers, retailers, suppliers and wholesalers.”

He added, “Most importantly, this alliance will enhance the three-tier system and amplify the benefits this system currently provides consumers: the widest array of product available anywhere in the world, delivered in a manner that is well regulated and ensures consumer protection, appropriate oversight, and product integrity.”

“We are excited to enter into this forward-looking collaboration with Drizly, a company that has established itself as a market leader—led by a strong executive team and experienced advisors, and operating under an innovative strategic vision that integrates well with the three-tier system.”

An FAQ document regarding the engagement is available here.

About Drizly:

Drizly™ is the technology company powering a superior shopping experience for beer, wine and liquor. Combining the best selection and price, content-rich and personalized shopping experiences, and the speed and convenience of on-demand delivery, Drizly delivers “The Joy of Drinking™” to legal-age drinkers across the United States. Backed by a world-class group of angel and institutional investors, the company has raised $4.8 million to become a superior place to shop for beer, wine and liquor in Austin, Baltimore, Boston,Chicago, Denver, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York City, Providence, Seattle, St. Louis,Washington D.C., and other cities across the U.S. For more info, visit www.drizly.com.

About WSWA Services, LLC:

WSWA Services, LLC is an affiliate of the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA). WSWA is the national trade association representing the wholesale tier of the wine and spirits industry. With 362 member companies across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, WSWA is the voice of wholesalers in Congress, the executive branch, the courts, news media, and in communities across America. Member firms represent more than 80 percent of all wine and spirits sold at wholesale in the U.S.