Knoxville Beverage Company

What Knoxville Beverage Company does

Knoxville Beverage Company is a privately held regional wholesale distributor of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages founded in 1961 and headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. The company serves as the intermediary between beverage producers/suppliers and licensed retailers across 26 East Tennessee counties, distributing spirits (bourbon, whiskey, Scotch, gin, vodka, tequila, rum), wine from more than 20 international and domestic regions, ready-to-drink (RTD) pre-mixed cocktails, and non-alcoholic mixers/alternatives. A dedicated sub-brand, Tailored Selections, focuses on a premium micro-portfolio of fine imported wines, boutique domestic wineries, craft distilleries, and single malt scotch for independent restaurant and bar partners. The company is owned by Eagle Holdings, Inc. following a 2014 sale by the Milner family, who had controlled the business since 1981.

The company's commercial model is a traditional sales-led B2B distribution operation. It maintains a field sales force that manages on-premise (bars, restaurants, hospitality) and off-premise (grocery stores, liquor stores) retailer relationships across a single contiguous East Tennessee territory, with delivery minimums of $150 (on-premise) and $250 (off-premise). Orders are accepted through multiple channels: phone, direct sales rep, and the Provi digital storefront (storefront ID 1587), with account registration and management handled via the Fintech platform. The product portfolio is anchored on premium brands from recognized producers while also carrying value-tier options to address broad consumer demand. The company is a member of the Independent Distribution Network (IDN), which provides cooperative marketing and supplier access.

No proprietary technology has been disclosed, and there are no AI/ML capabilities in evidence — the business operates as a conventional three-tier distributor dependent on third-party platforms (Provi, Fintech, Paycom) for digital workflows. Revenue, headcount trend, and growth metrics are not publicly disclosed. The single most strategically significant move in the past decade was the 2014 transition from Milner-family ownership to Eagle Holdings, Inc.; subsequent portfolio and channel moves (Tailored Selections, RTD expansion, Provi integration) point toward incremental mix premiumization and digital ordering enablement rather than transformational expansion.

Name

Knoxville Beverage Company

Legal name

Knoxville Beverage Company

Website

https://knoxvillebeverage.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Knoxville Beverage Company is a privately held regional wholesale beverage distributor, founded 1961, that supplies wine, spirits, ready-to-drink, and non-alcoholic products to licensed on-premise and off-premise retailers across 26 East Tennessee counties. Owned by Eagle Holdings, Inc.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Beverage Distribution

NAICS

Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (4248)

SIC

Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Alcoholic Beverage Wholesale (Beer, Wine, Spirits) (AFAIAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Beverage Wholesale Distribution (Non-Alcoholic) (CRAOAAAH), Non-Alcoholic Beverage Wholesale (Soft Drinks, Water, Juice, RTD Coffee/Tea) (AFAIAGAB)

Keywords

• Beverage distribution
• Wine and spirits
• Wholesale alcohol
• Ready to drink
• Non-alcoholic mixers

Headquarters

HQ city

Knoxville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Beverage Distribution: Knoxville Beverage Company generates revenue through distributing wine, spirits, ready-to-drink beverages, and non-alcoholic products to licensed retailers. The company serves as an intermediary between producers/suppliers and retail customers (bars, restaurants, grocery stores), earning margin on product sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Knoxville Beverage Company is a regional wholesale beverage distributor that supplies wine, spirits, ready-to-drink beverages, and non-alcoholic mixers to licensed retailers across 26 East Tennessee counties. The company operates as an intermediary between producers/suppliers and retail customers (bars, restaurants, grocery stores, liquor stores), delivering a diverse portfolio of premium and value brands through scheduled delivery routes and online ordering.

Product overview

Knoxville Beverage Company is a beverage distribution company that serves as an alcoholic beverage distributor in East Tennessee. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of products organized into four main categories: Spirits (bourbon, whiskey, Scotch, gin, vodka, tequila, rum, and more), Wine (from numerous international regions and domestic sources), Ready to Drink (pre-mixed cocktails and canned beverages), and Non-Alcoholic (mixers and non-alcoholic alternatives). The company also operates a specialty division called Tailored Selections that focuses on premium imported wines, boutique wineries, craft distilleries, and single malt scotch. Founded in 1961, the company distributes to retailers and bars across 26 Tennessee counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tailored Selections: A team devoted to showcasing a stellar micro-portfolio comprised of fine imported wine, small production and boutique domestic wineries, craft distilleries and an impressive collection of single malt scotch.

Products and services

• Spirits Distilled spirits portfolio including bourbon, whiskey, Scotch, gin, vodka, tequila, rum, and other spirits sourced from various producers and suppliers for distribution to licensed retailers across East Tennessee.
• Wine Wine portfolio featuring products from Argentina, Australia, Austria, California, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Greece, Indiana, Italy, New Zealand, Oregon, Portugal, Sake/Plum Wine, South Africa, Spain, Sparkling/Champagne, Tennessee, Uruguay, Virginia, and Washington State, distributed to licensed retailers.
• Ready to Drink Pre-mixed cocktails and ready-to-drink beverages including canned cocktails, spiked lemonades, and other RTD products distributed to licensed retailers.
• Non-Alcoholic Beverages Non-alcoholic mixers and alternatives including Bloody Mary mixes, ginger beer, cocktail syrups, and non-alcoholic spirits distributed to licensed retailers.
• Tailored Selections Specialty micro-portfolio program dedicated to showcasing fine imported wine, small production and boutique domestic wineries, craft distilleries, and an impressive collection of single malt scotch offerings, with dedicated service for independent restaurant and bar partners in Eastern Tennessee.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• IDN (Independent Distribution Network)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKnoxville Beverage Company is an IDN Distributor, affiliated with the Independent Distribution Network which provides marketing support and brand association for regional distributors.
• ProvicoreTechnology or IntegrationProvi is an online ordering platform provider integrated with Knoxville Beverage's operations. Retailers can order products through Provi's storefront (storefront/1587), enabling digital ordering and potentially analytics for the distributor.
• TABC (Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission)minorOthersTABC is the state regulatory body overseeing alcoholic beverage distribution in Tennessee. Knoxville Beverage provides link to TABC website as a resource for retailers.
• WSWT (Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of Tennessee)minorOthersWSWT is a state trade association for wine and spirits wholesalers. Knoxville Beverage provides link to WSWT website as a resource for retailers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Lipman Brothers: Nashville-based wine and spirits wholesaler serving Tennessee. Comparable as a Tennessee-licensed alcoholic beverage distributor operating under the same TABC franchise territory framework, though larger in scale and serving Middle/West Tennessee.
• Empire Distributors: Southeast US beverage distributor operating across multiple states. Comparable regional wine and spirits wholesaler competing for similar supplier franchises and on-premise/off-premise retailer relationships in adjacent Tennessee/Southeast geography.
• Ajax Distributing Company: Tennessee-based wine and spirits wholesaler operating in East Tennessee (Chattanooga territory). Direct head-to-head competitor within the same Tennessee ABC franchise system, splitting East Tennessee counties with Knoxville Beverage.
• Best Brands Inc. Nashville-based wine and spirits wholesaler operating under the same TABC framework. Comparable Tennessee distributor serving overlapping on-premise and off-premise customer segments.

Broad incumbents

• Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits: Largest wine and spirits distributor in the US, operating across multiple states including Tennessee. Overlaps directly in product categories (wine, spirits, RTD) and serves the same on-premise/off-premise retailer base, but at vastly greater scale.
• Republic National Distributing Company: Second-largest US wine and spirits distributor with national footprint including Tennessee operations. Comparable product mix (premium wine and spirits portfolio) and customer base of bars, restaurants, and retailers.
• Breakthru Beverage Group: Multi-state beverage distributor formed through the merger of Southern Wine & Spirits and AmS import. Operates in Tennessee and competes for the same wine, spirits, and RTD supplier franchises and retailer accounts.
• Johnson Brothers: Family-owned multi-state wine and spirits distributor. Comparable as a long-established independent-style wholesaler competing for premium supplier franchises across multiple states, including potential overlap in the Southeast.
• Winebow: Large wine-focused distributor with national reach. Comparable specifically on the wine side of the portfolio, including the premium/boutique importer relationships that mirror Knoxville Beverage's Tailored Selections sub-brand.

Others

• IDN (Independent Distribution Network): Network of independent beverage distributors of which Knoxville Beverage is a member. Comparable as a peer network organization providing marketing support and supplier introductions to member distributors across the US.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/tailoredselections
• Xx.com/knoxbeverage

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Knoxville Beverage Company