A pair of transactions in the Pacific Northwest will see the coming together of three wholesalers and the creation of a new jointly owned entity by two prominent beer distribution companies.
Click Wholesale Distributing — a craft beer, spirits and wine wholesaler with operations in Renton, Wash., Spokane, Wash., and Hayden, Idaho — today announced its pending sale to Craig Stein Beverage.
Simultaneously, Craig Stein Beverage will “partner” with The Odom Corporation to form Northwest Beverages, LLC, a specialty beer, wine and spirits distributor owned equally by the two companies.
Those deals, pending supplier approvals, are expected to close on March 31.
“We are excited that the strength of Odom and CSB combined with the addition of the Click organizations will create a larger and stronger Northwest distribution network,” Craig Stein, owner of the namesake distribution company, said via a press release.
In the release, the companies said Click Distributing would continue to operate independently for the “foreseeable future.” Click management, including vice presidents Jim Florio and Terry Nichols, will join the new organization, per the statement.
“The ownership teams believe the benefit from the combined organization will enhance the resources and expertise to better serve the growing needs and competitive challenges of this regional market,” a statement read.
Click Distributing currently sells more than 45 craft brands, including popular offerings from Alesmith, Avery Brewing, Great Divide, The Lost Abbey, Maui Brewing and Dogfish Head, among others.
The Odom Corporation, a MillerCoors outfit with operations in Alaska, Washington, Idaho and Oregon, currently distributes for dozens of craft companies, including 21st Amendment, Green Flash, Stone Brewing and Ninkasi, among others.
“We are confident this will lead to increased market service and penetration capabilities that would be an additional benefit to the suppliers and customers of all the involved companies,” Stein added in the release.