The industry veteran returns to South Carolina after serving as EVP of Breakthru Wisconsin
June 17, 2026 — Breakthru Beverage Group, one of the leading beverage wholesalers in the United States and the largest broker in Canada, today announces the appointment of Chris Sperling as Executive Vice President of South Carolina. This appointment brings Sperling back to South Carolina after spending nearly three years leading Breakthru Wisconsin. Sperling brings nearly two decades of industry experience and a proven track record of building successful teams, strengthening partnerships, and leading growth.
“Chris is a talented and highly respected leader whose passion for people, customers, and suppliers has translated into a proven track record of delivering strong business results,” said Julian Burzynski, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Breakthru Beverage Group. “His deep understanding of the market, combined with the experience and perspective he gained leading Wisconsin, make him exceptionally well suited to lead this important market. We are thrilled to welcome Chris back to South Carolina.”
During his previous tenure in South Carolina, Sperling played a key role in launching the ASPECT fine wine portfolio, while helping strengthen execution across critical business areas. With nearly two decades of experience across Breakthru Beverage Group and Connecticut Distributors, he brings a strategic, service-oriented leadership style and passion for developing teams that deliver consultative support, exceptional execution, and strong results for customers and suppliers. His combination of industry expertise, market knowledge, and people-focused leadership position him exceptionally well to lead South Carolina’s next chapter of growth.
Barry Thompson, East Region President of Breakthru Beverage Group, said, “Chris understands this market, our customers, our suppliers, and our associates so deeply because he helped shape many of the capabilities and partnerships that continue to drive our success today. Bringing him back to South Carolina feels like a homecoming, and we’re excited about the energy, experience, and vision he brings as we continue building on the market’s strong momentum and creating new opportunities for growth.”
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 five years in a row. For more information, visit www.BreakthruBev.com.
