Great Lakes Wine & Spirits Agrees to Buy RNDC Michigan’s Spirits Distribution Business

Great Lakes Wine & Spirits has agreed to acquire RNDC Michigan’s spirits distribution business, while also joining Imperial Beverage and Vintage Wine Company in a deal to take over RNDC Michigan’s wine operations, according to an announcement reported by Kane’s Beverage News Daily. In a related transaction, Great Lakes is partnering with National Wine & Spirits to acquire RNDC’s building in Livonia. All of the deals still require court and regulatory approval.

The proposed sales come as Republic National Distributing Co., or RNDC, works through a Chapter 11 bankruptcy process. The company said the transactions are subject to approval by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, along with customary regulatory clearances and other closing conditions. The parties are aiming to complete the deals between Oct. 30 and Nov. 15.

The Michigan assets involved cover a large part of RNDC’s presence in the state. Great Lakes said it would acquire RNDC Michigan’s ADA business, the part of the operation tied to spirits distribution in Michigan’s state-controlled system. The company also said it would work with Imperial Beverage and Vintage Wine Company to acquire RNDC Michigan’s wine business. Vintage indicated that the package it may acquire would include part of the wine and non-alcoholic portfolio.

The transactions would reorganize distribution in one of the country’s control-state markets, where the state plays a central role in spirits sales and private operators work within that structure. That makes the proposed change significant for distillers, wineries, importers and retailers that depend on steady product flow into Michigan. If the sales are approved and close on schedule, they could alter how suppliers, including international spirits brands, reach stores and restaurants in the state during an important selling period.

Executives involved in the deal said they are trying to provide stability to a market that has been unsettled by RNDC’s restructuring. Joe Cekola, chief executive of Imperial Beverage, said the buyers want to bring more clarity to the future of the Michigan market and to the people and brands tied to it. He also said Imperial expects to work closely with RNDC during the transition to help keep the business stable through the holiday season.

Michelle Giorgio, president of Vintage Wine, said the company sees the potential purchase as a way to expand its presence in Michigan and create room for future growth. She said the family-owned company is interested in a portion of RNDC Michigan’s wine and non-alcoholic business.

Great Lakes executives framed the transaction as both a business expansion and an operational responsibility. Lewis Cooper, co-chief executive of Great Lakes Wine & Spirits, said the company expects to work with the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, retailers and suppliers if the transaction is approved. He said Great Lakes wants to hear concerns and ideas from those groups as it takes on a larger role in the state’s alcohol distribution system.

Syd Ross, the company’s other co-chief executive, said that if the acquisition closes, the ADA operation would continue to be run as National Wine & Spirits. He said the priority would be a smooth transition for suppliers, customers and employees.

RNDC said the deal is part of a broader effort to wind down or transfer its Michigan operations in an orderly way. Marc Sachs, RNDC’s president and chief executive, said the company’s employees in Michigan had helped build its position in the state and that the planned transactions represent an important step in transitioning those operations responsibly. He also said RNDC remains focused on supporting its workers, customers and supplier partners during the process.

The Livonia property sale adds a real estate component to the broader restructuring and suggests that the buyers are not only taking over brand relationships and distribution rights, but also positioning themselves to control physical infrastructure tied to those operations. That could matter in a market where warehouse capacity, delivery routes and regulatory compliance are central to keeping spirits and wine moving without interruption.

The timing is also important for the beverage industry. The targeted closing window falls just ahead of the late-year holiday rush, when demand for spirits and wine typically rises. Any disruption in Michigan’s distribution network during that period could affect inventories, shelf space and promotional plans for retailers and suppliers. For that reason, the buyers’ emphasis on continuity is likely to be watched closely by producers and importers that rely on Michigan as a meaningful market.