Glazer’s, Southern Wine & Spirits Prepare for Merger

Southern Wine & Spirits of America Inc. and Glazer’s Inc. announced Monday that they would merge, creating what they called “the largest North American wine and spirits distribution company.”

The new company will be called Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits LLC. It will distribute more than 150 million cases of wine and spirits annually and employ more than 20,000 people with operations in 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Caribbean and Canada.

The company will be headquartered in Miami with “significant ongoing operations” in Dallas.

In Arkansas, Glazer’s has operations in North Little Rock, Mountain Home and Tontitown. Last year, it closer an operation in Texarkana that distributed in Miller County.

The new company’s leadership and board of directors will include representatives from Southern and Glazer’s. Harvey R. Chaplin will be as chairman, and Bennett Glazer will be executive vice chairman. The company will be managed by CEO Wayne E. Chaplin and President Sheldon Stein.

The merger is expected to be close in the second quarter subject to regulatory approvals.

“We are delighted to combine with Glazer’s,” Chaplin, chairman of Southern, said in a news release. “Together, these two family-owned, industry leading organizations — each with a great history, strong values and entrepreneurial spirit, unmatched talent and a track record of successful performance — will solidify our standing for years to come as the most capable and effective distributor in the industry.”

The deal does not include the majority of Glazer’s malt beverage distribution business, which will operate as a separate company, Glazer’s Beer & Beverage, under the continued ownership of the Glazer family, the companies said. The remainder of Glazer’s malt beverage business and Southern’s malt beverage business will become part of Southern Glazer’s.