In another display of its thirst for growth, a local wine distributor is combining with a Northeast competitor.
The combined company’s new name will be the Winebow Group.
The Vintner Group, based in Ashland, announced a merger with New York-based Winebow on Tuesday. The distributors will form a new company named The Winebow Group, with former Vintner Group top executive David Townsend as its new president and CEO.
The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“In this case, it is a merger of equals,” Vintner Group and now Winebow spokeswoman Teresa Low said. “Winebow and the Vintner Group are coming together to jointly create a new team.”
The Winebow Group will be made up of about 1,200 employees – about 600 from each company – and will operate in 13 states along the East Coast, as well as in Illinois.
While Townsend will be the firm’s CEO, the executive team will include members from both sides of the deal.
David Townsend
In Virginia, The Vintner Group operates as The Country Vintner and will continue to use that name as a part of the Winebow Group. The company was founded in Richmond in 1980 and has worked through a series of acquisitions in recent years.
The company reached into Florida in 2010 after buying Boca Raton-based Stacole Fine Wines. In 2013, it moved into New York, New Jersey and Connecticut after scooping New York-based Martin Scott Wines. The Vintner Group absorbed Atlanta-based Quality Wine and Spirits the same year. All of the Vintner Group subsidiaries will continue to operate under the Vintner name post-merger.
“The Winebow Group is kind of the engine that’s going to power the individual companies that have been servicing the local markets,” Low said.
In another display of its thirst for growth, a local wine distributor is combining with a Northeast competitor.
The combined company’s new name will be the Winebow Group.
The Vintner Group, based in Ashland, announced a merger with New York-based Winebow on Tuesday. The distributors will form a new company named The Winebow Group, with former Vintner Group top executive David Townsend as its new president and CEO.
The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“In this case, it is a merger of equals,” Vintner Group and now Winebow spokeswoman Teresa Low said. “Winebow and the Vintner Group are coming together to jointly create a new team.”
The Winebow Group will be made up of about 1,200 employees – about 600 from each company – and will operate in 13 states along the East Coast, as well as in Illinois.
While Townsend will be the firm’s CEO, the executive team will include members from both sides of the deal.
David Townsend
In Virginia, The Vintner Group operates as The Country Vintner and will continue to use that name as a part of the Winebow Group. The company was founded in Richmond in 1980 and has worked through a series of acquisitions in recent years.
The company reached into Florida in 2010 after buying Boca Raton-based Stacole Fine Wines. In 2013, it moved into New York, New Jersey and Connecticut after scooping New York-based Martin Scott Wines. The Vintner Group absorbed Atlanta-based Quality Wine and Spirits the same year. All of the Vintner Group subsidiaries will continue to operate under the Vintner name post-merger.
“The Winebow Group is kind of the engine that’s going to power the individual companies that have been servicing the local markets,” Low said.
Winebow continues to march forward in their attempt to become the first nationwide wholesaler of fine wine and spirits. the combination of the Winebow/Scott/Country Vintner/Stacole portfolio is impressive – but no doubt there will be a shakeout from the many producers – there are only so many producers you can properly represent – but as a former Winebow salesperson I must say the chance to sell Montelena, DRC and Vietti is appealing.