Distribution

The end of Deschutes Brewery’s partnership with Costco may have come as a surprise to the general public, but the Bend, Oregon-headquartered craft brewery and its key partners were planning for this “off-ramp moment,” CEO Peter Skrbek told Brewbound.

Kroger has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire regional grocery chain Giant Eagle for $1.65 billion, marking the company’s first major acquisition since its proposed megamerger with Albertsons collapsed in 2024.

Columbia Distributing has completed its acquisition of certain wine and spirits distribution rights from Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) in Oregon and Washington, adding approximately 850,000 cases to its portfolio across both states.

Total beverage-alcohol dollar sales turned positive year-over-year [YoY] (+0.8%) and week-over-week [WoW] (+1.7%) in the week ending June 21, according to the latest weekly report from market research firm Circana. Off-premise dollar sales reached $1.542 billion during the week, which featured several drinking-centric occasions, including Father’s Day celebrations and nearly two weeks of World Cup play. Volume, measured in case sales, declined 1.9%.

Craft dollar sales declines stabilized to start the summer selling season after a period of worsening trends. In the four-week period (L4W) ending June 14, craft dollar sales declined 4.6% year-over-year (YoY) at multi-outlet grocery, mass retail and convenience stores (MULO+C) tracked by market research firm Circana. This marked no change in momentum from Circana’s previous monthly report (data ending May 17), which itself reflected a doubling of dollar sales declines compared to the prior period (-2.3% YoY L4W through April 19).

Keg 1 Management is wheeling and dealing. The multi-state distribution platform/consolidator’s Keg 1 Missouri subsidiary announced a deal to acquire more than 1 million cases from Fechtel Beverage & Sales in Central Missouri.

Nearly 300 Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) workers in Illinois are expected to be laid off as the distributor shuts down its operations in the state.

The Federal Trade Commission and Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits have reached a tentative settlement agreement in the federal agency’s price discrimination lawsuit against the nation’s largest wine and spirits distributor.

Republic National Distributing Company’s (RNDC) Illinois operation – one of its remaining markets – is headed toward a shut down, as the distributor’s territory fire sale continues across the country.

Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods has acquired Lee’s Discount Liquor, Nevada’s largest independent liquor chain, marking the Texas-based retailer’s first expansion outside its home state, the companies announced today.

The cracks in the facade of beer’s improved performance in 2026 have begun to widen, according to the latest monthly report from market research firm Circana. Year-to-date (YTD) through May 17, beer category dollar sales increased 0.3% at multi-outlet grocery, mass retail and convenience stores (MULO+C) tracked by Circana.

The Reyes Beverage Group’s 50th year is its biggest yet. The nation’s largest beer distributor completed the biggest acquisition in company history last week for 11 RNDC markets, making it the No. 3 wine and spirits distributor in the U.S. And the company’s dealmaking ambitions aren’t close to done – in and out of beer.

It rained on many Memorial Day parades in the literal sense during the long weekend, but the less-than-ideal weather figuratively rained on the beverage-alcohol industry’s metaphoric parade too, according to the latest weekly report from market research firm Circana.

Columbia Distributing and Hayden Beverage are officially linking up in the Pacific Northwest. Columbia is making a “strategic investment” in Hayden, signing a letter of intent to acquire a stake in the family-owned Idaho distribution company.