Following a chaotic week of deal announcements for most of Republic National Distributing Company’s (RNDC) collapsing empire, the wholesaler has made arrangements with two rivals for five of its remaining markets, VinePair has learned.
According to an internal memo sent Tuesday morning by RNDC chief executive Marc Sachs, the unraveling firm has received a letter of intent from BreakThru Beverage Group (BBG) for its joint-venture operations in Kentucky and Indiana. RNDC has also separately reached an agreement with Quality Brands Distribution for a “potential transaction” for its Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota business.
“We are taking a thoughtful approach to ensure potential opportunities for our associates while maintaining our commitment to the suppliers and customers we serve,” Sachs wrote. The email was shared with VinePair by a current RNDC employee who has been granted anonymity to avoid retaliation from the firm.
Neither RNDC nor Quality Brands immediately responded to a request for comment. A spokesman for BBG referred to a press release confirming its intent to acquire RNDC businesses in Kentucky and Indiana “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.” The spokesman, Kevin Owens, told VinePair he did not know the headcount of RNDC workers potentially affected by the acquisition, nor whether BBG had plans for that workforce.
If the transactions for these five markets go through, they will push the total number of markets RNDC has sold, transferred, or exited in 2026 over 25, with 11 going to Reyes Beverage Group; 17 to Martignetti Group; three to Columbia Distributing; and a portion of New York to Manhattan Beer and Beverage Distributors. This long row of falling dominoes began with RNDC’s “withdraw[al]” from California in 2025.
This is a developing story and will be updated with new information. Submit tips to dave@dinfontay.com or dinfontay.11 on Signal. Anonymity available.
The article Memo: RNDC to Shed Five More Markets as Firesale Continues appeared first on VinePair.