Constellation Brands, an international producer of wine, beer and spirits, best known for Corona Extra and Modelo Especial, the nation’s top two imports, announces that Chattanooga-based Carter Distributing Company was awarded the brands Gold Crown—Tier Three Award, taking first place regionally, and first place nationally, for the second consecutive year. Additionally, Carter Distributing Company won Constellation Brands’ Gold Standard Award, which is given to Gold Network partners who consistently achieve volume and distribution goals and prove long-term performance.
“This should be a proud moment for all the members of Carter Distributing Company,” says Bob Shannon, market development manager, Constellation Brands. “I’d like to congratulate Carter on an excellent 2016, having seen firsthand the attention and focus Carter put toward the high-end, and in particular, the Constellation Brands Beer Division portfolio.”
Constellation Brands Gold Crown regional award is given to Gold Network partners who achieve the highest attainment of their volume and distribution goals. The national winner is then chosen from the regional winners by Constellation’s sales leadership team for having represented top performance among that elite group.
“Being recognized with these prestigious awards from Constellation Brands is a huge accomplishment for our company, and two years in a row is extremely telling of the hardworking team we have at Carter,” says Blair Carter, owner and CEO of Carter Distributing. “I’m honored to keep the great legacy of this third generation family owned business alive in honor of my father.”
According to Constellation Brands, Carter Distributing Company grew its overall volume by 26 percent in 2016, as well as its off-premise effective distribution by nearly 35 percent. Not only did Carter grow double digits in off-premise effective distribution, but also grew its on-premise simple distribution channel by 36%. These awards are an important part of recognizing the significant accomplishments of Constellation Brands Gold Network partners.
“We’ve continued to grow in volume over the past two years—increasing by over 50,000 cases yearly, and we are incredibly proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish,” says Bob Monroe, general manager of Carter Distributing. “In recent years, Mexican import beers have been consistently trending and are even rivaling craft in terms of growth. We appreciate our great relationship with Constellation Brands and we’re excited to keep the momentum going.”
Carter Distributing Company founder Bill Carter started the company in 1959 and it has since grown to over 1,200 retailers in over nine counties.
