Brown-Forman Corporation named new distribution partners across 13 U.S. markets, the company’s first such change in decades.

Johnson Brothers will be the new distributor in Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Texas, while Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits will add Louisiana and New York to its existing partnership, according to The Spirits Business. Kentucky, Alaska and Oklahoma also will get new distributors, while California and Hawaii now come under the purview of Reyes Beverage Group.

Out as a distribution partner with Brown-Forman is Republic National Distribution Company, or RNDC, formerly the spirits company’s key partner. 

Other markets will retain their current distributors following the company’s completion of a country-wide Request for Proposal (RFP) process.

“This milestone marks an exciting evolution in our U.S. strategy, building upon our commitment to elevate our premium spirits portfolio and reach consumers in impactful ways,” Michael Masick, executive vice president and president, Americas, said in a news release. “This process has enabled us to evolve existing relationships, form new ones, and, in every instance, align around a common vision for Brown-Forman brands and a strategy to achieve our collective aspirations.”

“This is Brown-Forman’s first significant change to our U.S. route-to-consumer landscape in more than 60 years,” Robinson Brown IV, senior vice president and managing director, USA & Canada, added. “These decisions were taken with great thought and care, and we believe they will bring tremendous opportunities for growth in the years and decades to come. Together, we will share Brown-Forman’s iconic family of brands with consumers across the U.S., fueling accelerated momentum and achieving new levels of success.”

Breakthru Beverage Group (BBG) now becomes the company’s largest national distributor partner, covering 14 key markets across the U.S. and Canada. The new partnerships take effect Aug. 1, 2025.

Read more: Brown-Forman Reduces 12% of Global Workforce, to Close Louisville Cooperage

About Brown-Forman

Brown-Forman Corporation has been building spirits brands for more than 150 years, with a team of approximately 5,400 employees worldwide. The company distributes beverages in more than 170 countries. Learn more at brown-forman.com.