Tag Archive: Charmer Sunbelt Group

Empire-Breakthru Battle Heats Up As Retailers Reveal Details Of Alleged Smuggling Scheme

The court battle between Empire Merchants and Breakthru Beverage—two of the U.S. market’s biggest spirits and wine distributors—continues to heat up. Continue reading →

News Briefs for November 21, 2016

Breakthru Makes Offer For Empire Amid Controversy

Breakthru Names Lloyd Sobel, Former Empire CEO, As Executive Vice President

Breakthru Beverage Group has appointed Lloyd Sobel to an executive VP post, less than two months after Sobel was fired as CEO of Empire Merchants following accusations that he received as much as $5 million in under-the-table payments from Empire co-owner Charlie Merinoff. Continue reading →

Breakthru Acquires Glazer’s 50% Stake In Arizona’s Alliance To Become Sole Owner

Breakthru Beverage Group has acquired the 50% interest it didn’t already own in Alliance Beverage Group, giving it full control of the Arizona operation. Continue reading →

Interview: Danny Wirtz, Vice Chairman, Breakthru Beverage Group

In October of last year, two of the leading U.S. spirits and wine distributors—Charmer Sunbelt Group (CSG) and Wirtz Beverage Group (WBG)—joined forces to create Breakthru Beverage Group, a distribution giant with operations in 16 states and yearly revenue of well more than $5 billion. Danny Wirtz, who had been president of Wirtz Beverage, was appointed vice chairman of Breakthru, and has since been driving the integration of CSG and WBG into the new entity. He recently sat down with SND managing editor Peter Zwiebach to discuss how the deal came about, the integration process and what lies ahead for Breakthru. Continue reading →