News Alert: Alan Dreeben Retires From RNDC; Marc Sachs To Replace Him On Company’s Board
January 4, 2021Republic National Distributing Co. has announced that board member and industry legend Alan Dreeben is retiring, effective today. His son-in-law Marc Sachs will take his place on the board.
“I am proud of all we accomplished at RNDC,” Dreeben said. “We became a national powerhouse while maintaining our commitment to our suppliers, customers, and associates. Through it all, we maintained the family-focused environment and continue to grow to be the national distributor of choice.”
“Alan’s contributions to the industry are unsurpassed,” said RNDC president and CEO Tom Cole. “I have known him and his wife Barbara my entire career and he made a significant impact on me from the beginning. I wish him well in his retirement and thank him for helping put RNDC on an accelerated growth trajectory. Alan will be missed in this role and we are pleased to welcome Marc to the board.”
Sachs ascends to RNDC’s board with 25 years of sales and marketing experience. He joined RNDC forerunner Block Distributing in 2005, and has managed and led multiple sales, marketing, and organizational development strategic initiatives across his tenure.
Dreeben was recently named Market Watch magazine’s Industry Executive of the Year. He has been part of the drinks industry’s second tier for more than half a century, becoming one of the great pioneers in establishing wine as part of the American lifestyle.
If that was the calling of a remarkable career, he certainly had an auspicious start—joining a leadership training program at E. & J. Gallo Winery in 1966 and reporting directly to the legendary Ernest Gallo. He then moved to Block Distributing in San Antonio, Texas, which would eventually become part of the merger that formed Republic National Distributing Co. (RNDC). Over the years, Dreeben burnished his executive credentials and helped establish the leadership role for RNDC that the company enjoys today.
Block merged with Republic Beverage in 2005 and Dreeben, who was then serving as Block’s executive vice president, became a co-vice chairman of the newly named Republic Beverage Co. Two years later, Republic joined forces with Atlanta-based National Distributing Co. to create RNDC. Since then, the company has continued to expand, posting nearly $12 billion in revenue last year, behind only Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits at $19 billion.
With Dreeben in a key leadership role, RNDC has maintained progress over the years through a constant reevaluation of strategy, technology, and core values. In a memorable speech at the 2012 Impact Marketing Seminar, Dreeben laid out the foundations of the company’s success—including a relentless effort to strengthen partnerships with suppliers, retailers, and consumers; training for the RNDC workforce; and placing an ever-greater emphasis on marketing and not just selling. “Consumer data helps make products more relevant in a market comprised of different cultures and ethnicities,” he noted, adding that it was all part of the evolution from “pull” to “push” marketing strategies—with technology playing a major role in the warehouse and out in the field in servicing retail customers.
Using those bedrock principles and strategies, RNDC has been on a sustained growth trajectory. Last year, it added ten western states and more than $3 billion in revenues through its new joint venture with the Underwood family’s Young’s Holdings. That deal brought RNDC’s total footprint to 32 states. Meanwhile, the company has continued to invest in technology, notably with its eRNDC supplier portal, which provides online visibility into the status of orders and overall management of brands. All of RNDC’s suppliers have now transitioned to the eRNDC portal, which has become a valuable tool during the Covid-19 crisis.
In addition to his career at RNDC, Dreeben sits on a number of corporate and community boards, and makes it a point to give back through a variety of charitable organizations such as the United Way, the American Cancer Society, and many others.
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