Team Cone

What Team Cone does

Team Cone, legally Cone Distributing, Inc., is a privately held, family-owned total beverage distributor founded in 1985 by Douglas P. Cone Jr. and headquartered in Ocala, Florida. The company distributes beer, craft beer, imports, flavored malt beverages, hard seltzers, non-alcoholic beverages, mixers, spirits, wine, ready-to-drink cocktails, THC-infused beverages, and THC edibles from 40+ supplier brands to retailers across 22 counties in North Central Florida. Operations are supported by two distribution facilities (Ocala and Tallahassee), a direct field sales force with dedicated Key Account and Area Sales Manager coverage, and approximately 330 employees — 35% of whom have 10+ years of tenure and 26% of whom are designated 'Legends' with 20+ years of service.

Name

Team Cone

Legal name

Cone Distributing, Inc.

Website

https://teamcone.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Team Cone is a privately held, family-owned beverage distributor founded in 1985 that distributes 40+ supplier brands across beer, spirits, non-alcoholic, and THC categories to retailers throughout 22 counties in North Central Florida from Ocala and Tallahassee facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ocala

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Beverage Distribution Revenue: Team Cone generates revenue by distributing beer, soda, water, energy drinks, spirits, and other beverages to retailers across 22 counties in North Central Florida. As a distributor, they transport, deliver, market, merchandise, and collect taxes on the products they deliver. Revenue is derived from margin on product distribution from their 40+ supplier brands.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Team Cone is a family-owned total beverage wholesale distributor serving 22 counties across North Central Florida. The company transports, delivers, merchandises, markets, and collects taxes on a portfolio of 40+ supplier brands spanning beer, craft beer, imports, hard seltzers, spirits, wine, non-alcoholic beverages, ready-to-drink cocktails, and emerging THC and Kratom products for grocery, convenience, and beer store retailers.

Product overview

Team Cone (Cone Distributing, Inc.) is a family-owned beverage distributor serving 22 counties in North Central Florida since 1985. They offer a comprehensive 'total beverage solution' portfolio that distributes over 40 supplier brands across multiple categories. The core product is beverage distribution services, with the portfolio organized into: (1) Beer division encompassing Craft Beer (Swamp Head, Lake Tribe, Coppertail), Domestic Beers (Miller Lite), and Imported Beers (Modelo, Corona, Heineken, Guinness); (2) Flavored Beverages including FMB & Hard Seltzers (Mike's Hard Lemonade, Truly); (3) Non-Alcoholic Beverages covering sparkling water (Clearly Canadian, Free Bird, NDO H2O), tea (Just Ice Tea, Ryl Tea), and prebiotic soda (Popwell); (4) Craft Spirits including Fish Hawk Spirits (rum, whiskey, vodka), Homosassa Distillery (bourbon, gin), Pure Culture Vodka, Dano's Dangerous Tequila, and Sunshine Punch Orange Creme; (5) Wine and malt-based spirits; (6) Emerging categories including THC Beverages (RYTHM hemp drinks) and THC Edibles (Camino gummies). The company operates from facilities in Ocala (primary warehouse) and Tallahassee, providing transportation, delivery, marketing, merchandising, and tax collection services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Total Beverage Distribution Service

Quantifiable outcome

• 89 internal promotions in 2025 demonstrating internal talent development

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Just Ice TeacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 28 May 2026Just Ice Tea is a real-brewed, 100% organic iced tea brand with rigorous ingredient standards including Fair Trade certified sweeteners (agave syrup, organic honey, cane sugar). Led by co-founders Seth Goldman (Chief Change Agent, co-founder of Honest Tea, Chair of Beyond Meat) and celebrity chef Spike Mendelsohn. Team Cone is distributing Just Ice Tea varieties including Peach Oolong, Half & Half, and Honey Green in North Central Florida.
• Clearly CanadiancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 7 April 2026Clearly Canadian is a premium sparkling water brand made with Canadian spring water and natural fruit flavors, packaged in iconic glass bottles. Team Cone has added Clearly Canadian to their portfolio of non-alcoholic beverages, carrying classic flavors (Mountain Blackberry, Wild Cherry, Country Raspberry, Orchard Peach, Summer Strawberry, Sunset Orange) and Zero Sugar varieties.
• Free Bird (Southern Spring Water)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 26 February 2026Team Cone has partnered with Free Bird, a brand of 100% natural spring water sourced from the Blue Ridge Mountains in Georgia, distributed in 19.2oz aluminum 'Tallboy' cans. Free Bird is a primary partner of Joe Gibbs Racing and NASCAR driver Chase Briscoe. Team Cone distributes both Still Spring Water and Sparkling Water to their 22-county Florida territory.
• Sunshine Punch (Orange Creme Rum Liqueur)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 February 2026Sunshine Punch Orange Creme is a rum-based cream liqueur born in North Carolina, created by founders Brian Thomason and Matt Hemmings. It won the 2023 WSWA Brand Battle Tournament. Team Cone distributes this spirit brand and features cocktail recipes pairing it with other portfolio spirits including Pure Culture Vodka, Dano's Dangerous Tequila Blanco, Pink Spoonbill Vodka, and Fish Hawk Black Rum.
• RYTHM (Hemp-Infused Beverages)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 27 January 2026RYTHM is a modern hemp-infused sparkling beverage brand designed for different moments — RYTHM Sativa (with THC, THCV, and 70mg caffeine for energy/focus) and RYTHM Kush (with THC, CBD, and L-theanine for relaxation). Flavors include Mandarin Orange and Mango Pineapple. Supplied by RYTHM Inc. (formerly Agrify Corporation). Team Cone distributes RYTHM in their 22-county territory.
• Camino (THC Gummies)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 January 2026Camino is a THC edibles brand (Kiva Confections) offering terpene-tailored effect gummies in Sativa, Hybrid, and Indica varieties, plus Camino Sours (10mg THC per piece, vegan pectin, sour sugar coating). Team Cone's expansion beyond beverages into the THC edibles category. Aligns with the growing Delta-9 THC market in Florida.
• NDO H2OcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 30 August 2023NDO H2O (No Days Off) is an ultra premium water brand founded by Manning Sumner, owner of Legacy Gyms in Miami, Florida. Built on the 'No Days Off' fitness philosophy. Team Cone launched NDO H2O in all 22 counties, beginning August 29, 2023 in Tallahassee and August 30 in Ocala and Gainesville.
• Dano's Dangerous TequilacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDano's Dangerous Tequila is a premium craft tequila brand rooted in Tequila, Jalisco, made with 100% Blue Weber agave using traditional small-batch methods. Award-winning lineup includes Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, and infused varieties. Team Cone features Dano's Dangerous Blanco in cocktail recipes pairing with their portfolio brands.
• Pure Culture VodkacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPure Culture is a Florida-crafted vodka brand distilled in Tampa from 100% Florida sweet corn, distilled ten times for exceptional smoothness and filtered for a clean, crisp profile. Gluten-free premium vodka. Team Cone features Pure Culture Vodka in cocktail recipes within their portfolio.
• Homosassa DistillerycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHomosassa Distillery is a Florida craft distillery on the Nature Coast producing premium small-batch spirits including Bourbon (Bald Cypress Bourbon - 5 year aged), Rum, Vodka, Gin, and Moonshine, using pure spring water from the Homosassa watershed and locally sourced grains. Team Cone distributes Homosassa spirits including Pink Spoonbill Vodka featured in cocktail recipes.
• Fish Hawk SpiritscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFish Hawk Spirits is Florida's award-winning farm-to-bottle craft distillery located outside Ocala, powered by its own working farm. Produces handcrafted whiskey, rum, vodka, brandy, absinthe, and specialty infusions using estate-grown corn and fruit, pure Rainbow River watershed water, and copper-still distilling. Team Cone distributes Fish Hawk Black Rum featured in cocktail recipes.
• Garage BeerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTeam Cone partnered with Garage Beer for a sweepstakes promotion — the Garage Beer Sweepstakes — offering a 4-month supply of Garage Beer plus a JBL Flip 6 Speaker, mini fridge, and camping chairs. Entry was limited to residents 21+ in Team Cone's 22-county territory.
• Joe Gibbs Racing / Chase Briscoe (NASCAR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree Bird, a brand distributed by Team Cone, is a primary partner for Joe Gibbs Racing and NASCAR driver Chase Briscoe. Chase Briscoe had a breakout 2025 season with three major wins and finished 3rd in the final championship standings.
• Athletic Brewing CompanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTeam Cone partnered with Athletic Brewing Company to bring non-alcoholic beers to their 22-county distribution footprint in Florida. Non-alcoholic beer has been growing strongly for Team Cone.
• St. Jude Children's Research HospitalcoreOthersTeam Cone has partnered with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital for 14 years, hosting annual Rib Sales, poker tournaments, and community fundraising events. In 14 years, Team Cone and their community raised $557,247 for St. Jude. In 2022 alone, they donated over $85,000 ($103,484 total with community fundraising).
• Local Community Charities (Give 4 Marion, Kimberly's Center, Kut Different, VOCAL, The Fostering Foundation, Second Harvest Food Bank, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Toys for Tots)coreOthersTeam Cone supports multiple local charities across their 22-county territory including Give4Marion (33-hour giving campaign), Kimberly's Center for Child Protection, Kut Different (youth mentorship), VOCAL (animal welfare), The Fostering Foundation (foster care), Second Harvest Food Bank of the Big Bend, Sleep in Heavenly Peace (beds for children), and Toys for Tots.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Empire Distributors: Florida-headquartered multi-state beverage distributor with comparable craft, import, and spirits portfolio across the Southeast. Operates a similar independent, relationship-driven wholesale model directly overlapping Team Cone's Florida footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits: The largest U.S. beverage alcohol distributor covering 44 states with extensive wine, spirits, and beer portfolios. Competes with Team Cone for chain account contracts and supplier brand authorizations across Florida.
• Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC): National beverage distributor operating across most U.S. states with broad beer, wine, and spirits portfolios. A direct competitive threat for premium and craft brand authorizations Team Cone relies on.
• Breakthru Beverage Group: Multi-state beverage distributor formed through private-equity-backed rollups of regional wholesalers. Competes with Team Cone at chain accounts and uses scale to negotiate supplier terms.
• Johnson Brothers: Family-owned national beverage distributor with wine, spirits, and beer operations across 30+ states. Closest national analog to Team Cone's family-owned model and a competitor for craft supplier agreements.

Regional players

• Columbia Distributing: Pacific Northwest beverage wholesaler operating across Oregon, Washington, and California with comparable craft, import, and spirits portfolios. Comparable size and operating model to Team Cone in a different geography.
• Ben E. Keith Beverages: Texas-based beverage distributor with Florida operations, distributing beer and non-alcoholic beverages. Overlaps with Team Cone in Florida on certain chain and NA beverage accounts.
• Hand Family Companies: Texas-based independent beverage distributor with a comparable regional, relationship-driven wholesale model. Useful benchmark for regional independent distributor economics.
• Crescent Crown Distributing: Multi-state beverage wholesaler focused on Louisiana, Mississippi, and surrounding markets. Comparable mid-sized regional distributor with similar craft and import beer portfolio mix.
• Major Brands: Mid-sized Midwest beverage distributor (Missouri/Kansas) operating a similar family-influenced regional model across beer, wine, and spirits. Comparable scale and supplier mix to Team Cone.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@conedistributing1755
• Facebookfacebook.com/TeamConeBeer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cone-distributing-inc.
• Instagraminstagram.com/teamconebeer
• Xx.com/teamconebeer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Team Cone