Charmer Sunbelt and Wirtz Beverage Unite to Form Breakthru Beverage Group, LLC

(New York, N.Y. and Chicago, Ill.) The Charmer Sunbelt Group and Wirtz Beverage Group, two of North America’s pre-eminent family-run distributors of wine, spirits and beer, announced today that the companies have signed an agreement to combine substantially all of their beverage alcohol operations.

The new company, Breakthru Beverage Group, will be one of the largest and most established wholesale distributors in the United States and Canada.  The Company will initially have operations in 16 markets, employ more than 7,000 people and represent a portfolio of premier wine, spirits and beer brands with $6 billion in annual sales.

W. Rockwell Wirtz and Charles Merinoff will lead the new organization as Co-Chairmen of the Board.  Daniel Wirtz, current President of Wirtz Beverage Group, will be Vice-Chairman. Greg Baird, industry veteran and current Charmer Sunbelt President, will serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.  Arthur Wirtz, current Wirtz Beverage Chief Operating Officer, will serve as Executive Vice President of Operations and a member of the Board.

As CEO and President, Mr. Baird will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Company, and will have organizational oversight and direct management of the senior leadership team.  All Company personnel will report to Mr. Baird, who will report to the Board and Operating Committee members Charlie Merinoff and Danny Wirtz.  The Operating Committee will oversee the integration of the businesses, manage and direct strategic planning and play a key role in leading supplier relations.  The new organization will be headquartered in New York with a corporate leadership presence in Chicago.

“The significance of these two great companies coming together is a testament to our shared values, approach and commitment to the future,” said Rocky Wirtz. “Charlie and his team have built an incredible company and we have a lot of similarities in our culture and growth strategy.  As family-run businesses, maintaining the integrity of our relationships with our employees and partners is really important,” Wirtz added.

“It will be truly amazing to see these two great organizations and our families come together.  We fully expect that the best practices and talent from both companies will create a superior partner for our suppliers and customers,” explained Charlie Merinoff.  “Both Charmer Sunbelt and Wirtz have a history of passion, innovation and winning in the marketplace.  Together, the sky’s the limit.”

The two companies share many of the same supplier partners, distributing similar brands across a geographically diverse footprint. 
The Charmer Sunbelt Group today operates local distributor and/or brokerage houses in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, and has interests in the Alabama and Mississippi markets.  The Wirtz family has interests in Illinois, Wisconsin, Nevada, Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa, and throughout Canada.

Alliance Beverage in Arizona will continue to be a joint venture, between Breakthru and the Glazer family, and Breakthru will have interests in Alabama and Mississippi with the Glazer and Young families.  The markets of Canada, Connecticut, Iowa, Missouri and New York, will not be owned by the Company.  However, Charmer Sunbelt and the Wirtz family anticipate continuing their respective partnership, management and supportive relationships with these affiliated companies.

“It is clear over our many months of dialogue that both companies have the same long-term vision to really create something that pushes the boundaries of the traditional distributor,” explained Danny Wirtz.  “By thinking and acting differently and building upon the very best of our organizations, we can come together and create a company that truly changes how we all do business.  There are so many opportunities to use our capabilities and expertise to be a more valuable partner. It’s very exciting.”