Grey Eagle acquires southeast Missouri beer distributor
ST. LOUIS – Grey Eagle Distributors, the largest Anheuser-Busch wholesaler in Missouri and one of the largest in the Midwest, has acquired Soaring Eagle Distributing, which services St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Washington, Madison and Iron counties in southeastern Missouri.
The acquisition adds an additional 600,000 cases of beer annually to Grey Eagle’s current distribution of more than 8.5 million cases per year.
Grey Eagle is the exclusive distributor of Anheuser-Busch beers and other beverages in St. Louis, Franklin and Gasconade counties in Missouri, as well as St. Clair, Monroe and part of Madison counties in Illinois. The company will now distribute approximately 6.9 million cases annually in Missouri and 2.2 million in Illinois to more than 3,000 retail accounts.
“There is tremendous growth potential in southeastern Missouri, especially with the Anheuser-Busch portfolio,” said David Stokes, chairman and CEO, Grey Eagle (shown). “A-B has recently invested in bringing a range of exciting new beers to market, such as Bud Light Orange, Budweiser Freedom Reserve and Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold. Expanding into this new territory presents a great opportunity to develop our market share and strategically positions Grey Eagle for continued growth.”
Grey Eagle was established in 1963, initially servicing St. Louis County. In 2010 the company extended its presence into Franklin and Gasconade counties, and the 2012 purchase of Illinois Distribution Co. in Belleville, Illinois, added distribution to St. Clair, Monroe and Madison counties. The company distributes some of the most popular beverage brands in the region including Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, Stella Artois, Urban Chestnut, O’Fallon, Sparkling Ice, Fitz’s and more.
Soaring Eagle has been an Anheuser-Busch wholesaler since the 1930s. Owned by the Layne family since the 1940s, it has served the retailers of the Parkland area ever since. Soaring Eagle has been an active member and supporter of the local community through the years.
Grey Eagle employs more than 300 workers in Missouri and Illinois, and the company is actively involved in the community, supporting a number of charitable causes including the St. Louis Sports Commission, Guns ‘n Hoses, BackStoppers, Habitat for Humanity, Folds of Honor and more.
“We are committed to providing best-in-class customer service, and we are also firmly committed to the communities in which we operate,” said Stokes. “At Grey Eagle, our employees bring passion and dedication to the job, and we look forward to serving our new retail partners throughout southeastern Missouri.”
For more information, visit www.greyeagle.com.
