Charmer Group and Peerless Importers have agreed to merge their operations in the New York metro area, a move that was much anticipated ever since Southern entered the NYC market two years ago. The new company, entitled Empire Merchants, will be owned equally by both parties, and will be a member of The Charmer Sunbelt Group.
The transaction will be completed in the next several months after receiving regulatory clearance and other customary conditions. E. Lloyd Sobel will lead Empire as CEO with Anthony Magliocco as COO, Terrence Arlotta as CFO, and Steve Meresman as Corporate Secretary.
The union reduces the number of major wine and spirits wholesalers in the metro New York market from four to three, according to Wine Spectator, and stands as just another example of wholesaler consolidation around the country. Empire will be a force to reckon with, boasting a lineup that includes Peerless’ Diageo and E&J Gallo’s brands, and Charmer’s portfolio of such key suppliers as Bacardi, Brown-Forman, Foster’s Wine Estates Americas and Sidney Frank Importing Co.
We hear at WSD that Peerless might not be the only wholesaler Charmer is striking deals with –there are rumblings that Glazer’s and Charmer might have something in the works.
