More than 500 Colorado workers are bracing for change as Eagle Rock Distributing Co. will be sold in early June to another distributor.
The Colorado and Georgia beverage distributor said in a WARN notice filed last week that it will close on June 5 as a result of the sale to Florida-based Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, a global distributor of beverage alcohol that already has a warehouse in Aurora.
Southern Glazer officials say they intend to retain employees and continue operations.
“We are aware of reports regarding the status of Eagle Rock Distributing Co. of Colorado. … The reports suggesting widespread job losses or closures are not reflective of our plans,” said Amy Kickham, chief human resources officer at Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, in an email statement to The Post.
Kickham said they are working closely with the Eagle Rock leadership team to ensure a smooth transition for employees, customers and suppliers through their expected acquisition date this summer.
From account managers and team leaders to commercial drivers and line cleaners, 514 Eagle Rock workers are being impacted. More than 140 of those workers are based in the Denver/Commerce City area, according to the WARN filing.
Teamsters Local 455, the union representing Eagle Rock workers, told The Post that online reports about huge job losses created a lot of panic among employees.
“I had multiple of our members reach out when they received these notices saying they were going to be terminated. That is not the case,” said Jason Abbott, business agent with Teamster Local 455 in Denver.
Abbott also said no changes to the existing contracts are being made.
“We have been in direct contact with Southern Glazer and they have been more than cooperative in working with the union. They will honor their contract and will negotiate successor agreements. There has been no animosity between the new company, the union and the employees,” Abbott said.
The union also criticized Eagle Rock for not informing employees or including a line in the WARN notice that Southern Glazer would retain the Eagle Rock employees.
On March 23, Southern Glazer announced that it had reached an agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Eagle Rock’s Colorado operations.
Upon its June closing, Southern Glazer plans to continue operations at the Eagle Rock’s facilities and continue to serve the markets where it currently operates, the announcement stated.
“This acquisition enables Southern Glazer’s to significantly expand its total beverage distribution in Colorado by adding high profile brands to our portfolio that strategically align with our total beverage strategy,” said Wayne E. Chaplin, president and CEO of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits.
Eagle Rock distribution sites:
Denver/Commerce City – 5000 E. 74th Ave., Commerce City, CO 80022
Durango – 796 Sawmill Rd., Durango, CO 81301
Pueblo – 1045 S. Santa Fe Ave., Pueblo, CO 81006
Loveland – 3800 Clydesdale Pkwy, Loveland, CO 80538
Grand Junction – 2497 Power Rd., #30, Grand Junction, CO 81507
Monument – 15080 Terrazzo Dr., Monument, CO 80132
“Eagle Rock has always been guided by a commitment to our people, our partners, and the communities we serve,” said Mike Economos, president of Eagle Rock Distributing Co.
“Southern Glazer’s shares our values as a family-owned company with a deep commitment to building strong supplier and customer relationships. We’re confident this next chapter will build on Eagle Rock’s legacy and continue delivering exceptional service throughout Colorado.”
Eagle Rock was founded in 2000 by John Economos and Steve Craine, with roots that trace back to the Atlanta Beverage Company, established in 1930.
The company distributes a range of beverages, including beer, craft beer, spirits, wine, hard seltzers and non-alcoholic options. Its portfolio features major brands such as Anheuser-Busch, Breckenridge Brewery, Four Peaks Brewing Co. and more.
Southern Glazer is a multi-generational, family-owned company with operations in 47 U.S. markets and Canada, as well as brokerage operations through its Southern Glazer’s Travel Retail Sales & Export Division in the Caribbean, Central and South America.
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