Republic National Distributing Company and Central Liquor Company have announced an agreement to form a new joint-venture distributorship in Oklahoma — effective Oct. 1, 2018.
The two companies will join together to distribute wines, spirits and beer as a result of a historic law change in the state of Oklahoma, which shifts from a four-tier system to a three-tier system — a move that will expand the new company’s retail customer base by 3,695 accounts, it says.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to move from being a broker to a distributor, and expand our valued and longstanding partnership with the Naifeh family and their Oklahoma team,” says RNDC President and CEO Tom Cole.
The new joint venture will operate out of a state-of-the-art, 406,000-sq.-ft. automated distribution center in centrally located Oklahoma City, the company says, enabling more convenient and efficient service to its customers across all 77 counties in Oklahoma. “This legal modernization will provide new retailers throughout the state a greater selection of fine wines, spirits and malt beverages for Oklahoma consumers to enjoy responsibly,” the company says.
Central Liquor Company is owned and operated by third-generation partners — Brad, Greg and Justin Naifeh. Since 2004, RNDC has partnered with the Naifeh family through its brokerage operation in the state.
RNDC will serve as the managing partner of the new distributorship, which will be named at a later date.
