Middle-tier consolidation continues to chug along, this time in Alabama.
Gulf Distributing Holdings in Mobile, the state’s largest beer wholesaler, completed the acquisition of Supreme Beverage Co. in Huntsville on December 4, according to a press release.
Through the deal, Gulf will add 4.5 million cases of product to its business, which now stands at 23.4 million cases. The company also adds 200 employees, taking its employee count to 1,200.
As part of the transaction, Gulf will add Supreme’s former 18 county territory in northern Alabama as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gulf Distributing Holdings, called Gulf Distributing Company of Alabama LLC. Gulf now services 62 of Alabama’s 67 counties.
Additionally, Supreme’s principles — Michael, Joseph and Phillip Schilleci — will become stakeholders in Gulf Distributing Holdings. Michael Schilleci will also join the company’s executive committee.
“We are excited to expand our distribution footprint into the north part of Alabama,” Gulf Distributing Holdings chairman and CEO Elliot B. Maisel said in a press release. “Huntsville is a vibrant city with a rapidly growing economy and population. On behalf of the Maisel family, we are humbled by the trust the Schilleci family has placed in us, and extremely grateful for their partnership and for our families’ friendship. We look forward to continuing the excellent standard of service set by Supreme Beverage in this market, as well as bringing the strengths and scale of Gulf Distributing Holdings to our new retail customers.”
Gulf distributes brands from Molson Coors, Constellation Brands, Heineken USA, Mark Anthony Brands, Yuengling, Boston Beer Company, Pabst, Diageo, New Belgium, Abita and Asahi, among others. The company also distributes non-alc energy brand Red Bull.
This isn’t the first deal between the Maisel and Schilleci families, which partnered in 2017 on a joint venture in 2017 called Gulf Distributing Co. of Birmingham, according to AL.com.