I'm doing some research on the distribution side of the craft brew industry here in Texas. Does anyone know why there hasn't been a distribution company that deals solely with craft beer? Maybe there are TABC legislation issues? Not a big enough market?
Flood Distribution and Favorite Brands (don't believe they deal with macros....) And to say one that focuses solely on craft breweries - that would mean that there are no more than 3 in any given region - one for miller, coors, and budweiser. Usually the large Euro macro ones fall into those parent companies as well. So, are there more than 3 in Austin? Yes. So, there are some that focus not on the macro companies.
Shelton Brothers portfolio also deals with multiple distro's too from what I have been told. So there portfolio sees distro with Famous Brands, Andrews, and BEK.
And Flood now too, I believe. Favorite Brands seems to be the biggest craft-only distributor down here. Though they're owned by L&F, which is an ABI distributor.
Miller & Coors are both produced in the US by one (joint) company, MillerCoors. There'd be no need for two different distributors to handle them. Google suggests Faust handles Houston for MillerCoors.
Here is a quick breakdown of what I know. Favorite, no macros all domestic and import craft but sells spirits and wine. Mexcor, no macros some craft import sells spirits and wine. Sons of john, no macro only domestic craft (for now). Mayan, no macro some domestic and import craft and other products (soda I think). Flood, no macro only import craft (for now) a ton of other distributors (glazers, andrews, keg 1, brown, faust, silver eagle, l&f, giglio, etc) that make up the macro distributors but also do craft. Hope that helps.
