Cherokee Distributing Company
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1958
- HeadquartersKnoxville, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Cherokee Distributing Company firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cherokee Distributing Company
- Legal name
- Cherokee Distributing Company Corporation, Inc.
- Website
- https://cherokeedistributing.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1958
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cherokee Distributing Company industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Beverage Distribution
- NAICS
- Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (4248), Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers (424810)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Beer, Wine & Spirits Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Alcoholic Beverage Wholesale (Beer, Wine, Spirits) (AFAIAGAA)
Keywords
Where Cherokee Distributing Company is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Knoxville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Cherokee Distributing Company business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Wholesale Beverage Distribution: The company generates revenue through wholesale distribution of beer, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages to retailers (stores, bars, restaurants) across Tennessee. They operate as a middleman between beverage suppliers/brands and retail customers, earning margins on the products they distribute.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Cherokee Distributing Company product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cherokee Distributing Company wholesales and distributes beer, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages from more than 100 brand suppliers to retail stores, bars, and restaurants across 48–61 Tennessee counties. It operates four to six distribution centers and a company-owned delivery fleet, with exclusive distribution rights for select craft brands such as Yee-Haw Vol Lager and Peaceful Side Brewery's Club Light.
Product overview
Cherokee Distributing Company operates a single unified wholesale beverage distribution business offering the Cherokee Distributing Brand Portfolio - a comprehensive distribution service for beer, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages. The core offering consists of wholesale distribution services across 61 Tennessee counties through four main distribution centers (Knoxville, Chattanooga, Cookeville, Kingsport) plus two additional locations (Pulaski, Tullahoma). Supporting this core distribution service are several complementary modules including a Supplier Portal for vendor onboarding, customer-facing Retailer Portals (VTInfo and Provi), an employee benefits administration system via PAYCOM, promotional giveaway programs, and a community donation initiative. The company represents 80+ supplier brands including Molson Coors products (Miller Lite, Coors Light), Constellation Brands (Corona, Modelo, Stella Artois), Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams), Lagunitas, White Claw, and local craft partners like Yee-Haw Brewing and Peaceful Side Brewery. Founded in 1958, the company is family-owned and emphasizes customer service and community involvement across East Tennessee.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Wholesale Beverage Distribution Services Wholesale distribution of more than 100 brands of beer, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages through company-owned delivery fleet and four-to-six distribution centers to retail stores, bars, restaurants, and other on- and off-premise accounts across 61 Tennessee counties.
- Exclusive Distribution of Yee-Haw Vol Lager Cherokee's exclusive distribution of Yee-Haw Brewing Co.'s Vol Lager craft beer in East Tennessee, available on draft at Neyland Stadium, in bars and restaurants, and in retail locations including Food City.
- Exclusive Distribution of Club Light Cherokee's exclusive East Tennessee distribution of Peaceful Side Brewery's Club Light, a light lager that benefits One Knoxville SC professional soccer club, available at Covenant Health Park and across bars, restaurants, and retail stores in the territory.
Companies that use Cherokee Distributing Company
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Cherokee Distributing Company technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Cherokee Distributing Company partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- One Knoxville SCminorCherokee Distributing Company partnered with One Knoxville SC and Peaceful Side Brewery for the exclusive launch of Club Light beer. Cherokee is the exclusive distributor of Club Light, a crisp light lager from Peaceful Side Brewery that benefits the professional soccer club. Club Light is available at Covenant Health Park, bars, restaurants, and retail stores throughout East Tennessee.
- Peaceful Side BrewerycorePeaceful Side Brewery is the producer of Club Light beer, which Cherokee Distributing Company distributes exclusively in East Tennessee. This partnership supports both a local business and One Knoxville SC soccer team through every purchase of Club Light.
- Cancer Support Community East TennesseeminorCherokee Distributing contributed to Cancer Support Community East Tennessee's campaign for their new facility at 6204 Baum Drive in Knoxville. The organization provides free holistic support to those facing cancer, including support groups, nutritional guidance, exercise classes, and services for children with cancer in the family.
- Yee-Haw Brewing Co.coreCherokee Distributing Company distributes Yee-Haw Vol Lager, the exclusive craft beer of the Tennessee Volunteers. Yee-Haw is the first beverage brand in school history to have activation inside Neyland Stadium. Cherokee is distributing Vol Lager across East Tennessee including at games and retail locations like Food City.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cherokee Distributing Company competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lipman Brothers: Nashville-based Tennessee beer and beverage wholesaler serving Middle Tennessee. Direct competitor to Cherokee in the same state with comparable product mix and customer base (retailers, bars, restaurants).
- D. Canale Beverages: Memphis-based Tennessee beer wholesaler founded in 1907. Operates a similar wholesale beverage distribution model serving West Tennessee retailers and on-premise accounts; former employer of incoming Cherokee president Chris Monroe.
- DET Beverages, LLC: Nashville-based Tennessee beer and beverage distributor covering 22 Middle Tennessee counties. Direct same-state competitor running a comparable wholesale distribution business model; another former employer of incoming Cherokee president Chris Monroe.
- Ajax Distributing Company: Tennessee beverage wholesaler operating a similar route-to-market wholesale distribution model serving regional retailers and on-premise accounts; one of Chris Monroe's former employers prior to his Cherokee appointment.
Broad incumbents
- Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits: Largest U.S. beverage distributor covering wine, spirits and beer across all 50 states. Far broader geographic footprint and supplier portfolio than Cherokee but competes indirectly for the same national brand allocations and large on-premise accounts.
- Reyes Holdings (Reyes Beverage Group): National beer and beverage distribution platform operating multiple regional wholesalers (e.g., Topeka, Martignetti) across the U.S. Competes with Cherokee for supplier brand allocations and broader portfolio breadth.
- Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC): Large national beverage distributor focused on wine and spirits with growing beer presence. Operates a wider geographic and category footprint than Cherokee and competes for the same national brand relationships.
- Breakthru Beverage Group: National beverage distributor across wine, spirits, and beer with operations in more than 15 U.S. states. A comparable but much larger incumbent to Cherokee in the wholesale beverage distribution space.
- Johnson Brothers: Multi-state family-owned beverage distributor operating across the Midwest and South. Operates a comparable three-tier wholesale distribution model serving on-premise and off-premise accounts in a larger footprint than Cherokee.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cherokee Distributing Company social profiles
Digital presenceCherokee Distributing Company financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cherokee Distributing Company leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Cherokee Distributing Company subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Cherokee Distributing Company funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cherokee Distributing Company M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cherokee Distributing Company
What does Cherokee Distributing Company do?
Cherokee Distributing Company wholesales and distributes beer, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages from more than 100 brand suppliers to retail stores, bars, and restaurants across 48–61 Tennessee counties. It operates four to six distribution centers and a company-owned delivery fleet, with exclusive distribution rights for select craft brands such as Yee-Haw Vol Lager and Peaceful Side Brewery's Club Light.
Is Cherokee Distributing Company a public or private company?
Cherokee Distributing Company is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Cherokee Distributing Company founded?
Cherokee Distributing Company was founded in 1958. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Cherokee Distributing Company based?
Cherokee Distributing Company is headquartered in Knoxville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cherokee Distributing Company make money?
One revenue line is on record: wholesale Beverage Distribution.
Who are Cherokee Distributing Company's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lipman Brothers, D. Canale Beverages, DET Beverages, LLC and Ajax Distributing Company. Broad incumbents are Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, Reyes Holdings (Reyes Beverage Group), Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC), Breakthru Beverage Group and Johnson Brothers.
Does Cherokee Distributing Company have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cherokee Distributing Company.
What industry is Cherokee Distributing Company in?
Cherokee Distributing Company's product category is Beverage Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAOAIAA, Beer, Wine & Spirits Wholesale Distribution, with a secondary code of AFAIAGAA, Alcoholic Beverage Wholesale (Beer, Wine, Spirits). Its NAICS code is 4248 and its SIC code is 5180.