Grey Eagle Distributors, the Anheuser-Busch wholesaler for St. Louis County, has completed the purchase of Illinois Distributing Company, an Anheuser-Busch wholesaler based in Belleville, Ill. The acquisition includes Illinois Distributing's assets and sales territory which includes most of St. Clair County, Monroe County, Collinsville and Granite City. Grey Eagle will begin selling beer to retailers in the new territory today. Illinois Distributing sold approximately 2.6 million cases of beer annually.
With the acquisition, Grey Eagle's sales territory will stretch from Monroe County, Ill. to Gasconade County, Mo. The company will now sell nearly 10 million cases of beer annually making it one of the largest beer distributors in the Midwest and one of the larger Anheuser-Busch distributors in the country. The expanded company will now service more than 3,000 retail accounts and have close to 300 employees. Approximately 90 percent of Illinois Distributing's 85 full-time and part-time employees will be retained by Grey Eagle.
Illinois Distributing had been owned and operated by the Joynt family since Tony Joynt Sr. purchased the company in 1948. Grey Eagle will keep Illinois Distributing Company's operations in Belleville.
"Acquiring Illinois Distributing Company is a big milestone for Grey Eagle," said David M. Stokes, president and chief executive officer, Grey Eagle Distributors. "The Joynts have always been great ambassadors for Anheuser-Busch brands. We look forward to carrying on the great business they've established and continuing their commitment to the local community."
Grey Eagle expanded its territory in January 2011 when it acquired Missouri Eagle LLC in Washington, Mo. In February 2011 Grey Eagle acquired the brand distribution rights for Stella Artois and Beck's.
