Ben E. Keith BEVERAGES ACQUIRES C.R. GOODMAN DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
FORT WORTH, March 10, 2008
– Fort Worth-based Ben E. Keith Beverages, one of the largest
beverage distributors in the United States, has acquired the Texas
division of College Station-based C.R. Goodman Distribution Company,
a distributor of more than 60 high-end craft and import beer brands.
As part of the deal, Ben E. Keith assumes ownership of C.R.
Goodman’s business in Texas, while C.R. Goodman’s founders retain
ownership of its Colorado business and its import company, Belukus
Marketing. All Texas operations, which include 63 employees in its
Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio facilities and sales
offices, will remain the same under the Ben. E. Keith Beverages’
name. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The
acquisition increases Ben E. Keith Beverages’ overall beverage
distribution area to include the entire state of Texas. The
company’s distribution area for Anheuser-Busch products will not
expand.
“We are
thrilled to add so many key specialty brands and dedicated employees
to our company,” said Kevin Bartholomew, president of Ben E. Keith
Beverages. “C.R. Goodman is renowned for its strong craft and import
brands portfolio, and it is our number one priority to continue to
build this business.”
Founded
in 1982 by Ken Goodman and Chuck Robertson, C.R. Goodman distributed
more than 60 brands of high-end craft and import beers, including
Spaten, Fireman’s #4 of Real Ale Brewery, Full Sail, Anchor Steam,
Dogfish Head, Ace Cider, Breckenridge, König Stone, Duvel, Samuel
Smith and Chimay. The company sold approximately 700,000 case
equivalents in 2007.
About Ben E. Keith Beverages
Ben E. Keith Company, established in
1906, began selling Anheuser-Busch products in 1933. Today, Ben E.
Keith Company’s Beverages division is one of the largest independent
Anheuser-Busch wholesalers in the country. The company also
distributes import beers, craft beers, wine products and
nonalcoholic beverages. With eight regional branches in Texas
including Abilene, Commerce, Dallas, Denton, Fort Worth, Llano,
Palestine and Waco, the company operates in 60 counties across
Texas. For more information, please visit
http://www.benekeith.com/beverage.
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