We have a trade.
The Reyes Beer Division today announced an agreement to swap brands in Virginia with Sheehan Family subsidiary Specialty Beverage of Virginia.
As Brewbound previously reported, Kalamazoo, Michigan-headquartered Bell’s Brewery was returning to the state via Specialty Beverage, after a deal with Reyes’ Premium Distributors in Richmond, and its previous wholesalers in the state.
“We’re just super happy that a business solution was found for that Richmond territory, and we’re excited to be able to ship beer to the Commonwealth of Virginia again,” Bell’s Brewery founder and president Larry Bell told Brewbound.
Now, additional details of the swap have come to light. As part of the trade, Reyes will send brands from Stone Brewing, Harpoon, Paulaner, Duvel Moortgat USA (Firestone Walker, Boulevard Brewing Company and Brewery Ommegang), Brooklyn Brewery and Bell’s to Specialty in exchange for brands from Molson Coors, Dogfish Head, New Belgium and Murphy’s.
The transaction is expected to close on November 13.
“We are excited to bring on these great brands from key suppliers and expand our portfolio in the Mid-Atlantic region,” Reyes Beer Division east president Stephen Reyes said in a press release.
The move further aligns Boston Beer’s network, with the move of Dogfish Head, while also moving New Belgium to the Reyes Beer Division in more territories.
Boston Beer has been working to integrate Dogfish Head into its network following last year’s merger of the two companies. Boston Beer CEO Dave Burwick recently told Brewbound that Dogfish Head was about 80% aligned with Boston Beer’s wholesaler network.
Meanwhile, in July, Fort Collins, Colorado-headquartered New Belgium notified six primarily Anheuser-Busch wholesalers in Southern California and eight Chicago area Molson Coors wholesalers of plans to terminate their distribution contracts without cause with the intention of partnering with Reyes.
Reyes subsidiary Premium Distributors of Virginia operates warehouses in Chantilly and Richmond and delivers more than 18.5 million cases of beer annually to more than 7,100 retailers across 26 Virginia counties.
Reyes also operates Chesbay Distributing in a 21,000 sq. ft. facility Chesapeake, Virginia. Chesbay delivers more than 5 million cases annually to 2,600 retailers.
Specialty Beverage belongs to the Sheehan Family Companies network and operates statewide in Virginia, with a pair of warehouses.