DALLAS, Jan. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Glazer’s, Inc. (“Glazer’s”) today announced plans to separate the majority of its current malt beverage distribution business prior to the closing of Glazer’s combination with Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. (“Southern”). As a result of the separation, the beer business within Glazer’s existing MillerCoors footprint will operate under a new company called Glazer’s Beer & Beverage, which will continue to be wholly owned by the Glazer family.

Glazer’s Beer & Beverage will have operations in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kansas, and Iowa, distributing approximately 25 million cases annually. The executive leadership team will include Bennett Glazer as Chairman, Sheldon (“Shelly”) Stein as Chief Executive Officer, Phil Meacham as President and Chief Operating Officer, Orman Anderson as Chief Financial Officer, and Don Gallian as Senior Vice President of Sales and Operations.

“We are excited about the future of Glazer’s beer business, and establishing a new, separate company will allow us to channel all of our efforts into the continued growth and performance of our beer portfolio,” Phil Meacham commented.

On January 11, 2016, Glazer’s and Southern announced the signing of a definitive agreement that will create the largest North American wine and spirits distribution company, serving supplier and customer partners from coast to coast. Glazer’s existing malt beverage distribution business is not included in the transaction, which is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2016, subject to regulatory approvals.

Glazer’s malt beverage division has already begun undertaking an operational separation process to facilitate its transition into an independent company. Effective January 1, 2016, it has reorganized its leadership team as follows:

Reporting to Phil Meacham, President and Chief Operating Officer

• Don Gallian, Senior Vice President Malt Sales and Operations
• Matt Swilling, Vice President Malt Operations
• Ryan Hamby, Director Business Strategy
• Dennis Nauslar, Vice President Brand Development Malt Sales and Operations
• Mark SoRelle, Director of Business Intelligence and Analytics
• Michelle Vickers, Corporate Director Human Resources

About Glazer’s, Inc.

Glazer’s, one of the country’s largest privately held companies, currently operates in 15 states, Canada and the Caribbean, and is one of the nation’s largest distributors of wine, spirits, and malt beverage products. The company has operations in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Canada, and the US Virgin Islands. The third-generation family business was founded in Dallas in 1933. For more information, please visit our website at www.glazers.com.

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Mark Semer
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SOURCE Glazer’s, Inc.