Anheuser-Busch is selling off its Colorado-based wholly owned distribution (WOD) branch.
The world’s largest beer manufacturer today announced an agreement to sell its Colorado distribution operations to Norcross, Georgia-based Eagle Rock Distributing, which will expand its operations to Colorado.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. An A-B spokesperson said the company would transition more than 10 million case equivalents to Eagle Rock.
A-B said it would work with Eagle Rock in the coming weeks to “ensure [a] smooth and efficient transition.”
“Eagle Rock has worked alongside Anheuser-Busch for many years, and we are excited to be building our relationship,” Eagle Rock president Mike Economos said in a press release. “We look forward to serving the great people of Colorado with the country’s best beverages for years to come.”
“In the Colorado market, we are fortunate to have aligned with a like-minded partner like Eagle Rock that shares our same forward-looking vision,” A-B chief sales officer Brendan Whitworth added. “A trusted partner for over 20 years, we are confident in their ability to continue to deliver great results for our collective business.”
In Georgia, Eagle Rock is led by the Economos family. In addition to selling A-B products, Eagle Rock’s craft beer portfolio in Georgia includes New Belgium, Monday Night Brewing and Wild Leap, among others.
A-B’s divestment of its Colorado distribution operation follows an agreement in July to swap distribution rights in California. As part of that deal, A-B would acquire distribution rights from independent A-B wholesaler Triangle in Santa Fe Springs, in exchange for A-B divesting a portion of its wholly-owned Riverside distribution operation to Heimark Distributing LLC. Peter Heimark owns both Triangle and Heimark.