BRISTOL, Va. (May 1, 2020) – After more than five decades of providing quality service and some of the world’s best-selling beverage products to the local community, the shareholders of Walling Distributing Company, Inc. (“Walling Distributing” or the “Company”) have agreed to sell substantially all of the Company’s assets to a newly formed investor group, Virginia Beverage Company, LLC (“Virginia Beverage Company”).

“The investor group, backed by Atlanta Beverage Company, was the first suitor that truly understood our market and the unique flavor of our culture here in Southwest Virginia,” said Mark Walling, president of Walling Distributing.

Walling went on to say, “My brother Challen and I have been blessed with incredible employees and an especially strong sales team. Furthermore, it has been wonderful to participate in the local community and offer our resources over the years. We are completely confident that our brands, as well as the partnerships, relationships and community investments we have developed over the past five-plus decades in Bristol will be in great hands. The ownership group of Virginia Beverage Company and its affiliates bring a tremendous amount of varied experience that will suit the Bristol business well for future generations. Without doubt, this is the right successor for us to hand over the reins to.”

Grant Gilbert, president of Virginia Beverage Company, said, “Virginia Beverage Company is thrilled to enter the territory and carry on the legacy that the Wallings and their employees have built since the early 1960s. We are excited to partner with existing management and are committed to providing the same great service that the company’s suppliers and customers have come to expect. We also look forward to getting involved in the local community in a meaningful way.”

Walling Distributing is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of products of Anheuser-Busch, Bold Rock Hard Cider, Bristol Station, Damascus Brewery, Geloso Beverage Group, Highland Brewing, Sugar Hill Brewing Company, Sweetwater and VPX Energy. Bristol’s territory includes the Virginia counties of Lee, Wise, Dickenson, Buchanan, Scott, Russell and Washington; and the towns of Abingdon, Bristol, Norton, Chilhowie and Saltville.

The transaction was formally approved by Anheuser-Busch and other suppliers of the company.

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