Cherokee Distributing Company has acquired Mid-South Distributing, another wholesale beverage distribution company, thus expanding its service area from 22 to 53 counties in Tennessee.
With headquarters in Knoxville and a second distribution center in Kingsport, family-owned Cherokee Distributing Company has served East Tennessee since 1958. By adding Mid-South Distributing, the company expands its territory into Middle Tennessee with Cookeville, Tullahoma and Pulaski as distribution hubs.
“The opportunity to acquire Mid-South was the right fit because of our shared commitment to outstanding customer service,” said George Sampson, president of Cherokee Distributing Company. “We have a longstanding history of not only representing the leading brands of beer in East Tennessee but also being deeply involved in the communities where we do business.”
“We’re looking forward to expanding our service area and community outreach to many other counties in the state through this partnership with the Mid-South team.”
The merging of the two companies became official Jan. 15. While many products overlap in the two companies’ portfolios, availability of some beer brands and other beverages will be specific to the respective regions. Cherokee Distributing Company is preparing an update to its website to reflect the additional territory and specific products to be distributed across the 53-county service area.
“Mid-South has grown over the years, but our commitment to our customers has remained unwavering,” said Rick Gerwe, president of Mid-South Distributing. “Joining the Cherokee Distributing team was the right decision in order to continue to best serve the market with innovation, reliable and efficient customer service and superior quality of products.
“As a family-owned and operated company that believes in community and investing in where its employees live and work, Cherokee Distributing’s values and business model aligned well with Mid-South Distributing.”