The relentless consolidation in the bev/al industry continues. The latest: Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits announced it plans to buy Clare Rose, the Anheuser-Busch distributor on Long Island as well as three of the main craft breweries. Terms weren't disclosed.

It is one of the few New York State beer distributors that operates its own state-of-the-art recycling facility. Clare Rose will be part of SGWS's New York division, and will continue to operate out of its East Yaphank headquarters.

The transaction includes the opportunity to distribute Anheuser-Busch’s full product portfolio currently sold in the Long Island area—from its industry-leading beer brands, including Michelob ULTRA, Busch Light, Budweiser, and Bud Light, to its fast-growing hard beverages, including Cutwater Spirits, NÜTRL Vodka Seltzer, and BeatBox Beverages, to its new energy drink line, Phorm Energy—along with Tilray Brands, Pabst Brewing Company, and a range of brands from additional suppliers. 

“This acquisition builds on the strong foundation we’ve established with Southern Glazer’s Beverage Co. of New York and expands our ability to serve customers across the broader New York area,” said Mark Chaplin, President, Commercial Sales, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. “This next step further strengthens our total beverage capabilities and positions us for continued growth in this critical market.” 

“Clare Rose’s long-standing reputation for operational excellence, coupled with its exceptional people and portfolio, makes this a natural fit for our growth strategy,” said Southern Glazer’s CEO, Wayne Chaplin.