Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits
Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits is a privately held American distributor of wine, spirits, beer, and other beverage products.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits is a privately held beverage-distribution company headquartered in Miramar, Florida. It supplies wine, spirits, beer, and related beverage products to retail and hospitality customers, representing a large portfolio of producers from the United States and international markets. The company is primarily a distributor rather than a consumer-facing manufacturer: its role is to connect suppliers with liquor stores, supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, bars, and other licensed accounts, while providing sales, delivery, merchandising, payment, and commercial-support services. The business began in 1968 as Southern Wine and Spirits of America, founded in Florida by Jay W. Weiss, Harvey R. Chaplin, and Howard Preuss. It expanded into California in 1969 and subsequently built a broad state-by-state distribution network. California became one of its most important markets, and the company's development there helped consolidate a distribution environment that had previously been fragmented among many smaller operators. Southern later entered Nevada, Arizona, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Hawaii, Kentucky, New Mexico, Colorado, Illinois, New York, and numerous other states. Its 2008 merger with the Odom Corporation substantially expanded its presence in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, while later market entries extended its reach into the Midwest and other regions. A major turning point came in January 2016, when Southern Wine and Spirits merged with Glazer's. The combination created Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits and brought together two large family-associated beverage-distribution businesses. The merged company became the largest wine and spirits distributor in the United States, with a network serving a substantial share of the country's licensed beverage trade. Its business scope includes national and regional distribution, supplier brokerage, export activity, travel-retail sales, and technology-enabled ordering services. The company has also expanded beyond its traditional U.S. distribution footprint. Its Southern Glazer's Travel Retail Sales & Export Division conducts brokerage and export activities in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. In 2023, the acquisition of WEBB Banks strengthened that international reach. In 2024, Southern Glazer's acquired substantially all of the assets of Horizon Beverage Group, adding Massachusetts and Rhode Island to its U.S. footprint and expanding its beer-distribution activities under the Southern Glazer's Beverage Company name. The provided reference material also reports a 2025 acquisition involving Anheuser-Busch's owned New York City distribution operation, covering Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx. Technology is another part of the company's operating model. In 2019, it introduced Proof, an online ordering and account-management tool intended to help customers place orders, discover products, locate deals, and manage payments. Southern Glazer's has also pursued category expansion, including a 2018 arrangement connected with Aphria's Canadian cannabis distribution subsidiary, Great North Distributors, in anticipation of recreational cannabis legalization in Canada. The company is associated with the Chaplin and Glazer families, although it is not publicly traded. Harvey R. Chaplin was a co-founder and longtime chairman, while his son Wayne E. Chaplin serves as president and chief executive officer. Other family members hold senior commercial and strategy roles. The business has faced regulatory and litigation scrutiny, including a 2024 Federal Trade Commission antitrust lawsuit alleging discriminatory discount and rebate practices affecting smaller retailers, and a private antitrust dispute brought by Provi concerning orders placed through an online alcohol-sales platform. These matters form part of the broader debate over competition and bargaining power in the U.S. alcohol-distribution system.
History
Southern Wine and Spirits was established in Florida in 1968 by Jay W. Weiss, Harvey R. Chaplin, and Howard Preuss. The founders built a distribution business serving the state's alcohol trade and began expanding beyond Florida the following year, entering California in 1969. California subsequently became the company's largest market and an important example of its consolidation-oriented operating model. Before Southern's expansion, distribution in the state was divided among numerous smaller companies; Southern was among the early distributors to achieve statewide coverage. The company continued its geographic growth over the following decades. It entered Nevada in 1976 and Arizona in 1992, followed by South Carolina in 1993, Pennsylvania in 1995, Hawaii in 1996, Kentucky in 1998, New Mexico in 2000, Colorado in 2001, Illinois in 2002, and New York in 2004. In 2005 it added Maine, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. Operations began in Alabama in 2006, and Delaware was added in 2008. A July 2008 merger with the Odom Corporation extended the company's distribution territory to Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Alaska. Southern later entered Indiana in 2010. Leadership and ownership remained closely connected with the founding families. Howard Preuss died from cancer in 1977, after which his widow, Celia Preuss, sold her interest to the remaining owners. Harvey R. Chaplin continued to be a central figure in the company's development and served as chairman until his death in June 2024. The Chaplin family remained involved in senior management, including through Wayne E. Chaplin and other family members. The most consequential corporate event in the company's history was its January 2016 merger with Glazer's. Glazer's had its own multigenerational history in beverage distribution, and Bennett Glazer played a key role in bringing the two businesses together. The combined company adopted the Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits name and became the largest wine and spirits distributor in the United States. Its model combined supplier representation, sales execution, warehousing, delivery, account management, and market development across a large network of licensed customers. Southern Glazer's subsequently invested in digital tools and international business lines. In 2019, it launched Proof, an online platform designed to support ordering, product discovery, promotions, and payments. The company also operated a Travel Retail Sales & Export Division serving customers and partners in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. In 2023, the acquisition of WEBB Banks expanded those international brokerage and distribution capabilities. The company's U.S. footprint grew again in 2024 through the acquisition of substantially all assets of Horizon Beverage Group. This transaction brought Massachusetts and Rhode Island into the network, described in the reference material as the 46th and 47th U.S. markets, and added beer-distribution activity conducted under the Southern Glazer's Beverage Company name. The reference material also reports that in November 2025 the company completed an acquisition involving substantially all assets of Anheuser-Busch's owned New York City distribution operation. The resulting business operates as Southern Glazer's Beverage Company of New York and serves four New York City boroughs. Southern Glazer's has also pursued adjacent category opportunities. In 2018, Southern Wine and Spirits reached an agreement with Aphria relating to exclusive Canadian distribution of recreational cannabis products through Aphria's Great North Distributors subsidiary once recreational use became legal in Canada. This initiative illustrated the company's willingness to apply its distribution capabilities beyond traditional alcoholic beverages. Its scale has attracted public-policy and litigation scrutiny. In December 2024, the Federal Trade Commission filed an antitrust lawsuit alleging that the company treated small and independent businesses less favorably than larger accounts in the allocation of discounts and rebates, raising issues under the Robinson-Patman Act. In 2025, Southern Glazer's agreed to settle a private antitrust lawsuit filed by Provi. That case concerned allegations that the distributor blocked orders from retailers using Provi's online alcohol-sales platform. These matters remain important to the company's history because they concern the competitive effects of concentration in beverage distribution and the terms on which suppliers and retailers access the company's network.
- 2024
Acquisition of Horizon Beverage Group assets
[1]The transaction added Massachusetts and Rhode Island and expanded the company's beer-distribution operations.
- 2023
Acquisition of WEBB Banks
[1]The acquisition broadened Southern Glazer's international brokerage and distribution activities.
- 2019
Proof platform launched
[1]The company launched a digital ordering and product-discovery tool for trade customers.
- 2018
Canadian cannabis distribution arrangement
[1]Southern Wine and Spirits agreed to distribute Aphria's recreational cannabis products in Canada through Great North Distributors after legalization.
- 2016
Merger with Glazer's
[1]The Southern Wine and Spirits–Glazer's merger created Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits.
- 2010
Entry into Indiana
[1]Southern added Indiana to its U.S. distribution territory.
- 2008
Merger with Odom Corporation
[1]The merger expanded the company's operations across several Pacific Northwest states and Alaska.
- 1977
Death of Howard Preuss
[1]Co-founder Howard Preuss died, and his widow later sold her interest to the remaining owners.
- 1969
Expansion into California
[1]The company entered California, later described as its largest market.
- 1968
Southern Wine and Spirits founded in Florida
[1]Jay W. Weiss, Harvey R. Chaplin, and Howard Preuss founded the predecessor business in Florida.
Products and positioning
A large-scale, privately held beverage distributor connecting global and domestic alcohol suppliers with licensed retail, restaurant, hospitality, travel-retail, and export customers.
Wine · 1968
Wine distribution
Wine is one of Southern Glazer's core distribution categories. The company represents domestic and international wineries and supplies products to independent retailers, chains, restaurants, hotels, and other licensed accounts. Its wine organization also supports supplier sales, market development, education, merchandising, and logistics rather than simply transporting finished goods.
Distilled spirits · 1968
Spirits distribution
The spirits portfolio covers major distilled-beverage categories and is distributed through the company's state-based sales and delivery network. Southern Glazer's acts as an intermediary between producers and licensed trade customers, coordinating commercial programs, account service, ordering, warehousing, and delivery.
Beer
Beer distribution
Beer became a more prominent part of the company's portfolio through later expansion and the Horizon Beverage Group transaction. In selected markets, beer activities operate under the Southern Glazer's Beverage Company name, separating or extending the company's beer-distribution capabilities within its broader beverage business.
Digital ordering platform · 2019
Proof
Proof is Southern Glazer's online trade-customer tool, launched in 2019. It supports ordering, product discovery, promotion and deal access, and payment-related functions. The platform is intended to make the distributor's catalog and account services more accessible to retailers and hospitality customers.
Export and brokerage services
Travel Retail Sales & Export Division
This division extends the company's distribution and brokerage capabilities beyond its principal U.S. state markets. It serves travel-retail and export channels in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America and provides a route to market for beverage suppliers operating across international territories.
Controversies
2025
Provi private antitrust lawsuit settlement
Southern Glazer's reached an agreement to settle litigation brought by Provi, which alleged that the distributor blocked alcohol orders from retailers using Provi's online sales platform. The matter concerned access to distribution and the relationship between traditional distributors and digital ordering intermediaries.
2024
Federal Trade Commission antitrust lawsuit
The FTC alleged that Southern Glazer's discriminated against smaller and independent businesses by denying them discounts and rebates made available to larger customers. The allegations raised questions under the Robinson-Patman Act about pricing practices and the competitive effects of a highly concentrated distribution network.
2021
Mod Selection sues Total Wine & More and alleges distributor misconduct
Mod Selection filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles against Total Wine & More, alleging that the retailer and its distributor, Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, acted together to diminish the brand's value. The brand also alleged racial bigotry and mis-marketing; these are allegations, not stated determinations.
Brand decisions
2024
Acquire Horizon Beverage Group assetsM&ABackground
The transaction provided a route into additional New England markets and strengthened the company's beer-distribution activities.
Action taken
Southern Glazer's acquired substantially all of Horizon Beverage Group's assets.
Aftermath
Massachusetts and Rhode Island were added to the U.S. footprint, and beer operations expanded under the Southern Glazer's Beverage Company name.
2023
Acquire WEBB BanksM&ABackground
Southern Glazer's sought to expand its international brokerage and distribution capabilities.
Action taken
The company acquired WEBB Banks.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded the company's reach in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
2019
Launch Proof for trade customersProduct launchBackground
Customers needed more convenient ways to browse the catalog, place orders, access deals, and manage payments.
Action taken
Southern Glazer's launched Proof as an online ordering and account-management tool.
Aftermath
The platform became part of the company's digital service model for retail and hospitality accounts.
2016
Merge Southern Wine and Spirits with Glazer'sM&ABackground
Both companies operated large beverage-distribution businesses, and combining them offered broader geographic coverage and supplier scale.
Action taken
The businesses merged and adopted the Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits name.
Aftermath
The combined company became the largest wine and spirits distributor in the United States.
Recent events
Southern Glazer's launches DRAM digital marketing agency[3]
Beverage alcohol distributor Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits launched DRAM, an agency providing digital marketing consulting and services to wine and spirits suppliers.
MAD TASTY signs nationwide distribution deal with Southern Glazer’s[4]
Reported:
MAD TASTY announced a nationwide distribution deal with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, with MAD TASTY set to roll out in Southern Glazer’s launch states starting immediately.
CENTR announces U.S. distribution agreement with Southern Glazer’s[5]
Reported:
CENTR Brands Corp. announced a U.S. distribution agreement under which Southern Glazer’s will distribute CENTR and CENTR Sugar Free, initially across seven states and through its Proof e-commerce platform.
CENTR Brands announces U.S. distribution agreement with Southern Glazer’s[6]
Reported:
CENTR Brands announced a U.S. distribution agreement under which Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits would distribute CENTR and CENTR Sugar Free beverages, initially across seven states and through its Proof e-commerce platform.
Mod Selection sues Total Wine & More and alleges distributor misconduct[2]
Reported:
Mod Selection filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles against Total Wine & More, alleging that the retailer and its distributor, Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, acted together to diminish the brand's value. The brand also alleged racial bigotry and mis-marketing; these are allegations, not stated determinations.
Southern Glazer’s expands Proof platform availability[7]
Reported:
Southern Glazer’s rolled out its Proof B2B ecommerce platform across 27 U.S. markets.
VIDE announces distribution agreement with Southern Glazer’s[8]
Reported:
VIDE Beverages announced a distribution agreement with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. The agreement is intended to expand VIDE’s distribution in the metro New York area and bring it into upstate New York.
Sources8 sources
- 1Southern Glazer's Wine and Spiritsen.wikipedia.org
- 2Mod Selection sues Total Wine & More and alleges distributor misconductdailymail.com
- 3Southern Glazer's 推出 DRAM 数字营销机构服务odwyerpr.com
- 4MAD TASTY 与 Southern Glazer’s 签署全国分销协议bevnet.com
- 5CENTR宣布与Southern Glazer’s达成美国分销协议bevnet.com
- 6CENTR Brands宣布与Southern Glazer’s达成美国分销协议finanznachrichten.de
- 7Southern Glazer’s 扩大 Proof 平台覆盖范围thedrinksbusiness.com
- 8VIDE 宣布与 Southern Glazer’s 达成分销协议bevnet.com
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