Farrell Distributing Company of South Burlington, Vt., and g.housen, Inc. of Keene, N.H. have reached an agreement that will transfer ownership of g.housen’s portfolio of beverage brands in Vermont to Farrell Distributing, the companies announced Sept. 14.
Both companies said the transaction would strengthen their businesses and improve service to suppliers, retailers and beverage consumers. The g. housen portfolio of brands includes some of the nation’s top national wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverage brands, including Anheuser-Busch, and will compliment the locally driven portfolio Farrell currently manages.
“This is a good deal between two longtime family businesses that will help both companies improve our scale and achieve efficiencies that offset rising cost pressures in the logistics business,” said David J Farrell, president and CEO of Farrell Distributing Company. “It also significantly enhances our ability to drive the business plans for our brands, and reinforces the link each company has to its home state and local communities.”
Richard Clarke, owner of g.housen, Inc. agreed. “We’re really happy that g.housen’s Vermont portfolio will transition to another family business,” Clarke said. “The efficiency both companies gain will be a useful tool that will deliver benefits to all of our partners – our brands, retailers and consumers. It also positions both companies for ongoing success and additional opportunities.”
Closing on the transaction will occur Oct. 30, 2015. A majority of g.housen employees will be offered the opportunity to transition to Farrell Distributing.
Farrell Distributing General Manager Todd Bouton said g.housen would be unified with Farrell’s operations incrementally with full integration dovetailing the completion of a 25,000 square foot expansion of the company’s South Burlington facility in the spring of 2016.
“We look forward to continuing to be a first-class distributor, employer and contributing member of the communities we serve.” said Ryan Chaffin, director of marketing for Farrell Distributing. “With this deal, quality, service and community will continue to be the retail focus, vision and commitment for Farrell’s entire portfolio across all segments. We look forward to building on the work g.housen has done in Vermont.”
