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Since 2012, Eagle Brands Sales owner Sue McCollum bought 3 AB distribs in South FL, starting with the purchase of Eagle Brands in 2012, followed by the purchase of Double Eagle (Orthwein family) in 2019 and now Stephens Dist, which just closed Aug 29. With closing of this deal to buy 2.3-mil-case Stephens Dist, located between Eagle Brands and Double Eagle, Eagle Brands Sales now sells over 10 mil cases annually in a unified territory in one of the most populous and desirable US geographies. It goes from just below Palm Beach to the Florida Keys, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale and more. Eagle Brands Sales now sells over 10% of AB volume in its 3d largest state, where the brewer sells about 70 mil cases and has about 15 distribs. It's one of the largest female-owned and led beer distribs in the country. "Great Opportunity"; BIG Competitors; RBG and SGWS "This is a great opportunity in a number of ways," Sue told INSIGHTS. Miami is currently #6 US metro area nationally and it's growing. In such a prime territory, Eagle Brands unsurprisingly faces formidable competitors across alc bevs. Gold Coast Bevs is Eagle's principal beer competitor, owned by largest beer distrib, Reyes Beverage Group. Gold Coast sells 28.2 mil cases, according to its website (albeit in a larger territory). But South FL is also the home mkt and corporate HQ for Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits, nation's largest wine and spirits distrib (which recently bought AB branch in NYC)."Unified Approach" to Sales, Service, Mktg "The vision in uniting those territories" is to have a "unified approach to sales and service" and marketing that resonates across the full expanse of the territory, including to its growing Hispanic consumer base. Some of the demographic "trends are moving north" from Miami, said Sue. Then too, there are other synergies. Instead of just servicing, selling and mktg to the Hard Rock Stadium (in Eagle Brands' territory), co can do all that at Hard Rock Casino too (formerly in Stephens' territory). Instead of only servicing the Miami airport, Eagle Brands Sales is also now servicing the Fort Lauderdale airport.Efficiencies Abound Deal will "create a lot of efficiency," Sue acknowledged. Eagle Brands Sales will service Stephens Dist from its existing 3 warehouses. It is not buying Stephens warehouse. The combined cos have about 350 employees. That includes Stephens family member Mary Lauren Stephens in a key role as well as the majority of Stephens employees.AB Vast Majority of Portfolio Eagle Brands Sales' portfolio is over 80% AB. It is one of the largest Stella wholesalers, selling around 1 mil cases across the 3 locations. In toto, AB had 38 share in FL in 2024, but perhaps less in South FL, which has long been an import stronghold. While it sells local craft, Happy Dad, Four Loko among its non-AB malt bev brands, much of Eagle Brands non-AB portfolio is non-alcoholic, including Essentia, Liquid Death, Prime, Talking Rain, etc.Sue's Story in Brief; "Clever Little Girl" Sue "stepped in to run Major Brands, a family-owned beverage alcohol distributor, after her husband's unexpected passing in 2012," began a Feb profile/interview in St Lou mag. Her husband Todd Epsten had previously run MO-based Major Brands. After Sue took over, several large spirits cos sought to terminate co. Sue fought back. She got significant if unspecified settlements. Ultimately sold Major Brands to Breakthru. Separately, Sue bought Eagle Brands Sales in 2012, closing just after her husband's passing (Todd first had owned an AB distrib in OR for a few yrs). Since then, Sue built out the beer distribution side of her business, as well as her philanthropic interests. One is called "Clever Little Girl" Foundation. And it's named after what one prominent spirits exec said about her amidst the battles. The foundation seeks to address social inequities. Sue also continues to manage family real estate and retail ventures. Sue is both a lawyer and an MBA, but originally wanted to be a sportscaster. A lifelong Buffalo Bills fan, she now owns a small piece of the team. She calls beer distribution "a team sport," where "every player is important." Sue talks (in sports-like lingo) about "taking risks" "believing in yourself" and "never giving up." And her life story demonstrates that.Sue at BREW; Legal Background Sue will be a featured speaker at this year's NBWA's BREW (Building Relationships and Empowering Women) conference immediately following NBWA's annual convention. "Sue is a distributor who cares a great deal about the history of and the rationale for the laws that support the independent three-tier system," said NBWA prexy Craig Purser. "Her legal background and experience in the spirits industry make her story even more vivid as she continues to invest in beer distribution. She is an amazing leader." And she will be honored as this year's recipient of the Frieda G. Maisel Trailblazer award, which "celebrates people and companies who elevate women in beer distribution."

Eagle Brands Sales Sells 10+-Mil Cases in Unified Territory in South FL; The Sue McCollum Story

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