May 6, 2026 — Breakthru Beverage Group, LLC announced today that it has entered into a Letter of Intent to acquire Republic National Distributing Company, LLC’s (RNDC) interests in its joint venture businesses with National Wine & Spirits (NWS) in Kentucky and Indiana. Upon closing of the transaction, Breakthru Kentucky and Breakthru Indiana will be fully integrated into the Breakthru family, expanding Breakthru’s operations to 18 states.
Breakthru Beverage Group’s CEO Tom Bené stated, “We’re incredibly excited about the opportunity to expand our footprint into two new states, Indiana and Kentucky, which reflects our continued commitment to thoughtful and strategic growth. We are also excited about the opportunity to partner with NWS as we integrate these businesses into the Breakthru family to further drive growth in these markets. We value the existing teams and intend to maintain the current employee structure as we evaluate the needs of our suppliers and customers.”
National Wine & Spirits’ CEO John Baker said, “We believe Breakthru Beverage Group is the best distributor to drive our business in these two important markets. I am confident that, with Breakthru’s leadership, strong experience, and commitment to execution excellence, these businesses will be well-positioned for their next chapter of growth and sustained success.”
The closing of the transaction is subject to finalizing a definitive purchase agreement, which will include customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, and is expected to be completed in early Q3 2026.
About Breakthru Beverage Group
Breakthru Beverage Group is one of the leading beverage wholesalers in the United States and the largest broker in Canada, representing a portfolio of premier spirits, wine, beer, and non-alcoholic brands. Breakthru is family-owned and operates in 16 markets with more than $8.6 billion in annual sales and a team of 9,000 dedicated associates. The company delivers world-renowned beverage brands to the doorsteps of North America’s retail, convenience, bar, and restaurant businesses, and has been named a “U.S. Best Managed Company” for four years in a row. For more information, visit www.BreakthruBev.com.
