Comer Distributing Company distributes over 900 SKUs for over 60 suppliers. Of those 900 SKUs, around 60% are craft, our fastest growing category, and 15% are imports. Although craft and imports total over 675 SKUs, the volume leader is domestics, which bring in almost 75% of their sales with only 100 packages. MillerCoors is Comer’s largest supplier. Crown Imports, Heineken USA, North American Breweries, and Pabst Brewing Company are also major suppliers.
Domestic is Comer’s largest segment by far. Comer has three main suppliers for the segment, in order by volume: MillerCoors, North American Breweries, and Pabst Brewing Company. MillerCoors is the dominate force, with Coors Light and Miller Lite being the #2 and #4 beers in the nation, respectively.
While domestic beer sales are flat lining, imports are steadily rising, although not as fast as craft beers. With a combined 11% share of Comer’s volume, Crown Imports and Heineken USA are the major suppliers in house.
- Amstel Light – Netherlands
- Asahi – Japan
- Banks – Barbados
- Carlsberg - Denmark
- Carta Blanca - Mexico
- Chimay – Belgium
- Corona – Mexico
- Dos Equis – Mexico
- Grolsch – Netherlands
- Heineken - Netherlands
- James Boags - Australia
- Labatt Blue – Canada
- Lion – Sri Lanka
- Modelo – Mexico
- Molson – Canada
- Moosehead – Canada
- Negra Modelo – Mexico
- Old Speckled Hen – England
- Pacifico – Mexico
- Peroni Nastro Azzurro – Italy
- Pilsner Urquell – Czech R.
- Plank-Bier - Germany
- Presidente – Dominican R.
- Red Stripe – Jamaica
- San Miguel – Philippines
- Sapporo – Japan
- Sol – Mexico
- Tanner Jack - England
- Tecate – Mexico
- Tsingtao – China
- Unibroue – Quebec
- Weihenstephan – Germany
- Victoria – Mexico
The American craft beer market is increasing more and more every year. In 2011, craft beer was up 13% in volume, or 1.3 million barrels, in the United States. Comer’s trends were a bit higher than the national line, selling 17% more craft volume in 2011 than in 2010. With the huge number of breweries and the never-ending varieties they produce, the craft category is and will continue to be one of the most exciting facets of Comer’s business.
- Abita – Louisiana
- Ballast Point – California
- Bear Republic – California
- Benford Brewing – S. Car
- Blue Moon – Colorado
- Boulder – Colorado
- Brooklyn – New York
- Carolina Blonde - S. Car
- Cottonwood – S. Carolina
- Dixie – Louisiana
- Dogfish Head – Delaware
- Duck-Rabbit – N. Carolina
- Dundee – New York
- Flying Dog – Maryland
- Foothills - N. Carolina
- Founders - Michigan
- Four Friends – N. Carolina
- Full Sail – Oregon
- Highland – N. Carolina
- Holy City – S. Carolina
- Kind – N. Carolina
- Lagunitas – California
- Leinenkugel – Wisconsin
- Mactarnahan’s – Oregon
- North Coast – California
- New Belgium – Colorado
- New Holland – Michigan
- Olde Meck - N. Carolina
- Orange Blossom – California
- Oskar Blues - Colorado
- Pyramid - Washington
- Redstone Meadery – Colorado
- RJ Rockers – S. Carolina
- Rogue – Oregon
- Samuel Adams - Massachusetts
- Saranac – New York
- Skull Coast – N. Carolina
- Sea Dog – Maine
- Shiner – Texas
- Shipyard – Maine
- Smuttynose – New Hampshire
- Stoudts – Pennsylvania
- SweetWater - Georgia
- Terrapin – Georgia
- Thomas Creek – S. Carolina
The specialty category includes flavored malt beverages, wine, wine coolers, progressive adult beverages, and cider. Basically, anything that isn’t beer but has alcohol that Comer distributes is included here.
Frozen Pouches
- Parrot Bay Frozen
- Seagram’s Frozen
- Smirnoff Frozen
Flavored Malt Beverages
- Clubtails
- Mike’s Hard Lemonade
- Smirnoff Ice
- Smirnoff Premium Mixed Drinks
- Seagram’s Smooth
Wine & Wine Coolers
Progressive Adult Beverages
Less than 1.00% of Comer’s business in 2009, non-alcoholic beverages have become much more important, topping out at over a 3.00% share in 2011. The two biggest contributors to the increase are Arizona Tea and Rip It, with a combined total of over 20,000 cases sold in 2011.
