Martignetti Companies, the sixth largest distributor of wine and spirits in the United States has announced that they will acquire Quality Beverage in Massachusetts. The deal is another indication that wine and spirit wholesalers are blending into the beer distribution side as the middle-tier continues to consolidate.
Quality Beverage is an independently-owned Anheuser-Busch and Constellation house which also has a craft portfolio with brands such as Sierra Nevada, Newport Craft, Magic Hat, Harpoon and others. The company has distribution centers in Auburn, MA and Chicopee, MA and services over 3,000 accounts with a portfolio of more than 400 brands.
Martignetti is headquartered in Taunton, MA and serves five New England states which include Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. It will be interesting to see if Martignetti continues to acquire beer wholesalers in any of those other states.
“For almost 30 years, it has been one of the great joys of my life to own and lead this incredible company of incredible people,” said Conrad Wetterau, President & CEO of Quality Beverage in a company statement. “Soon, my chapter will end and a new one will begin with the Martignetti family, and I feel confident that I have put all of our people in the best of hands going forward ensuring Quality Beverage‘s future, financial strength, and ability to grow.”