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Big distrib merger in NC further bolsters Keg 1 and its K1MS offshoot portfolio to new levels. Carolina Premium Bev and United Bevs announced "a merger of equals" to create United Carolina Beverages, bringing United Bevs portfolio under the K1 Management Services (K1MS) platform. Combined United Carolina Bevs operations will deliver more than 18 mil cases/yr across 31 counties, 70+ suppliers and over 2K SKUs, serving 8,000+ customers and employ more than 650 workers with over 95% portfolio overlap across their "naturally contiguous territories," as our sibling letter Insights Express reported yesterday. While some of that's non-alc and other bevs, co will have around 1/5 of NC's ~83 mil cases/yr total beer mkt once deal closes, expected in 1st half of 2026. Perhaps positioned to better compete with large Anheuser-Busch distribs in the state like RH Barringer and Adams. United Bevs adds around 6.4 mil cases/yr to the mix along with Carolina Premium's 7.5 mil cases and Caffey Dist's ~4.5 mil cases. United's sizable beer book (5.9 mil cases/yr) is led by Molson Coors, Constellation, Mark Anthony, Boston, Diageo Beer, Heineken, Geloso and Kirin-Lion. But co also sports a solid non-alc and hemp THC portfolio that sells nearly 500K cases/yr full of Keurig Dr Pepper-aligned brands and BlueTriton/Nestle waters, plus Jumex and its revived Odwalla brand, Polar Seltzer and upstart brands like Bloom Energy, Bucked Up, Ryl Tea, Recover 180 and more. On hemp THC side, it has Brez, Cheech & Chong, North Canna and Trail Magic.Positioned for 'Stronger, Faster' Growth to Come; Lots of Owners Under Collective Roof Combined entity of United Carolina Beverages will have Carolina Premium/Caffey Dist's Chris Caffey as CEO, Mark Bowman as prexy, Aaron Caffey as evp while United's Cody Drake takes on chief sales officer role, Nathan Ward becomes chief strategy officer and Beth Gaither is chief administration officer. Board will include "legacy representation" from both cos. Gotta note, United Bevs initially formed thru a merger of four different wholesalers: Blue Ridge, Piedmont, Proctor and Rowan. So there are a lot of owners/fams altogether as well as the broader K1MS team now in the mix at United Carolina Beverages. The combination will "unlock operational efficiencies, strengthen customer service, and expand opportunities for the team members across the enterprise," announcement states. "It is truly a merger of equals, and it positions us to grow stronger, faster, and more confidently than ever before," said CEO Caffey, a sentiment echoed by United chmn Paul Weisler.Keg 1's 5th Deal in 7 Yrs Adding 27 Mil Cases Deal catapults Keg 1 (which styles itself KEG 1) and its K1MS offshoot further up the ranks of top distribs in US. Keg 1 distribs, including K1MS operations and member cos that are individually owned, collectively sold over 120 mil cases/yr prior to Iowa Bev deal closing last yr, including over 65 mil cases across K1MS ops led by Superior Bev in Ohio, Houston Dist in Texas and Carolina Premium in NC, Keg 1 Missouri ops acquired in 2024, plus 7 other "operating entities" in Texas, Colo and Ky, as Insights Express assessed. Since then, co's added over 14 mil cases between United Bevs (6.4 mil), Iowa Bev (6.6 mil), 1 mil cases in Missouri between Folsom Dist's NAs and Urban Chestnut, plus Brown-Forman and Proximo pickups in certain mkts. This is its 5th deal since 2019 on top of Iowa Bev, Summit in St Lou, River City in Louisville and Rocky Mountain Bev in Colorado Springs, Colo, collectively adding 27 mil cases/yr to total ops. (Other individually owned Keg 1 members include DeCrescente Dist in NY, Faust Dist in Texas, Indiana Bev, Gulf Dist Holdings in Ala and Fla, Northeast Beverage/C&C in RI and Conn, and Merrimack Valley Distributing in Mass.)

DISTRIBUTION: Keg 1's Carolina Premium & United Bevs Merging to Create 18-Mil-Case Beast in NC; Portfolio NAs Include KDP Brands, Jumex, Bloom Energy, Brez

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