La Vergne, Tennessee, July 31, 2018 — DBI Beverage Inc., corporate parent of a consolidated group comprising one of the largest beverage distributors in California and in the country, has named Paul M. Schmitt as Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2019. Schmitt is presently the company’s Chief Operating Officer. He will succeed Mark D. Ramer on January 1, who will remain as Chief Strategy Officer and a member of the DBI Board of Directors. David B. Ingram continues as Chairman.

Schmitt, a 24 year beer industry veteran, has been Chief Operating Officer of the DBI companies since July of 2016. During the four years prior to his tenure at DBI, Schmitt served as Senior Director of Sales and Marketing at Coors Distributing Company (CDC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MillerCoors LLC in Denver. Schmitt’s prior industry experience also includes four years as General Manager of the Colorado, Utah, Montana, and Wyoming Management Unit of MillerCoors and, prior to formation of the MillerCoors joint venture, various positions of increasing responsibility at Coors Brewing Company. Schmitt started his beverage career with Pepsi.

“Paul Schmitt’s leadership of DBI’s sales, marketing, business development, and supplier relationships has prepared him well for taking on the CEO position,” said David Ingram. “Since joining DBI two years ago, Paul has been a key part of restructuring DBI’s go-to-market strategies and improving product profitability. We look forward to maintaining this momentum under Paul’s leadership starting in 2019.”

Ramer has been with the DBI companies since their inception in 2002, serving as Chief Operating Officer prior to becoming Chief Executive Officer in 2015. Prior to COO, Ramer served as DBI’s Chief Information Officer (CIO).  “Mark has been key to the rapid and profitable growth of the DBI Beverage group over its entire history. His leadership as CEO has been instrumental in transforming DBI’s nine acquired operating units into a more unified company, with a common culture and focus on becoming northern California’s market leader,” remarked Ingram.

DBI Beverage Inc. and Ingram Entertainment Inc. are both owned by David Ingram and headquartered in La Vergne, Tennessee, outside of Nashville. Ingram founded DBI Beverage in 2002. Since then, DBI subsidiaries have acquired distributorships in nine California markets: Chico, Modesto, Napa, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Jose, Truckee, and Ukiah. The DBI Beverage group anticipates on an annualized basis approximately $615 million in total revenues and distribution of approximately 29 million cases of beverage product. More information, including supplier and brand information, is available at www.dbibeverage.com.

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La Vergne, Tennessee, September 20, 2018 – David B. Ingram, owner of Ingram Entertainment Holdings Inc. and DBI Beverage Inc. announced today his $100,000 gift to the American Red Cross Hurricane Florence Relief Fund to help the victims of the hurricane disaster.  This gift is being made from the David Ingram Advised Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Ingram Entertainment Inc. is the leading national distributor of home entertainment products, including DVDs, Blu-ray, video game hardware and software, audiobooks, and accessories.  The company operates from 10 sales and distribution facilities located throughout the United States.  DBI Beverage Inc. is one of the leading beverage distributors in the country.  The company operates distributorships in nine California markets:  Chico, Modesto, Napa, Sacramento, San Francisco, Stockton, San Jose, Truckee, and Ukiah.  These distributorships supply thousands of retail accounts with a wide variety of domestic, craft and import beers, specialty waters, energy drinks and soft drinks.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 2, 2014 – Ingram Entertainment Inc. (www.ingramentertainment.com), the leading national distributor of home entertainment products, announced today that a subsidiary has purchased substantially all the assets of V.P.D. IV, Inc., a national home entertainment products distributor based in Folsom, California.  The transaction is effective June 30, 2014.

David Ingram, Chairman of Ingram Entertainment, said structural changes in the DVD home entertainment marketplace led to a deal with VPD.

“Acquiring the assets of VPD will enhance our financial performance by enabling us to process more units through a combined fewer locations.  Those efficiencies will better position us to work with our suppliers to provide our retailers with the products they need for their businesses.  We believe physical home entertainment media has a solid future, and we look forward to the opportunities ahead.  I am excited for our suppliers, customers, and associates,” said Ingram.

Bob Webb, Ingram Entertainment’s President & CEO, noted that “VPD has been a significant contributor to the home entertainment products distribution business for many years.  We at Ingram Entertainment look forward in particular to increasing our sales of products to “rentailer” customers, as this segment represents a significant portion of VPD’s business that will be transferred to Ingram Entertainment.”  Webb also expressed appreciation to all the personnel at both Ingram Entertainment and VPD who assisted in the purchase and will be assisting in the transition.

Both Webb and Ingram stressed that Ingram will be working to make the switch for customers from VPD to Ingram as seamless as possible.

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Tim Shannahan, VPD’s Chairman/CEO and principal shareholder, remarked that “Departing from the wholesale distribution business is bittersweet for me, to say the least.  I will be eternally grateful to all the dedicated VPD personnel, both past and present, without whose contribution of time, talent, energy, and loyalty, we would have never enjoyed the success we experienced for so many terrific years!  I have a great deal of respect for Ingram Entertainment and its people and am confident VPD’s many customers will be in good hands.  My thanks to everyone who has helped along the way.”

Ingram Entertainment is headquartered in La Vergne, Tennessee, outside of Nashville.  It is the leading national distributor of home entertainment products, including DVD and Blu-ray software, video games and audiobooks.  Video specialty stores, electronics and video game stores, Internet retailers, drugstores and supermarkets comprise the bulk of its customer base.  Ingram Entertainment operates out of five sales and six shipping facilities throughout the United States, four of which serve as national distribution centers.  For over 99% of the continental United States, Ingram Entertainment products reach customers within two shipping days.  The company also provides support services, including direct-to-consumer fulfillment for Internet retailers and category management services for retail partners.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:  Pam Garrison, pam.garrison@ingramentertainment.com, 615-287-4042

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Ceres, California, June 20, 2015 – In a joint news release, beverage wholesalers DBI Beverage Inc. (DBI) and Valley Wide Beverage Company (Valley Wide) are pleased to announce their separate acquisitions of product distribution rights and related assets of Cencal Beverage Co., LLC (Cencal), located in Ceres, California. Together, the assets acquired represent substantially all of Cencal’s beverage distribution rights and related assets. Other terms of the asset purchases, which closed yesterday, were not disclosed.

DBI’s purchase is expected to add 2.2 million product cases to DBI’s existing annual beverage sales, while Valley Wide anticipates its transaction will increase its annual volume by 600,000 cases. Both DBI and Valley Wide plan to continue to provide all former Cencal customers in these newly acquired territories with the pre-acquisition Cencal portfolio of brands and products. DBI will service customers in its new territory out of the location in Ceres used by Cencal immediately prior to these purchases, while Valley Wide will service customers in its newly acquired territory from Valley Wide’s current distribution facility in Fresno, California.

“Cencal Beverage Co. has been a successful distributorship in a growing market with exceptional associates and products,” said David Ingram, DBI’s Chairman, and Lou Amendola, Valley Wide President, in a joint statement. “We welcome them to our respective corporate families and look forward to the continued growth these acquisitions will bring to each separate company.”

DBI and affiliates also have California beer distribution operations in Stockton, Chico, Napa, Sacramento, San Jose, San Francisco, Truckee and Ukiah. With this acquisition, that group of DBI companies will, on a consolidated basis, distribute an estimated 29 million cases of beverage products annually and employ approximately 1,100 associates. Valley Wide will now distribute an estimated 8 million cases of beverage product annually out of Fresno with a team of approximately 275 associates.

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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, November 4, 2015 –Beverage wholesalers, DBI Beverage San Jose (DBI) and M.E. Fox & Company, Inc., (M. E. Fox), announced today that DBI has purchased select beverage distribution rights and related assets of M.E. Fox.  Twenty-six suppliers, totaling 1.7 million product cases, were added to DBI’s portfolio including Constellation, Sierra Nevada, Heineken USA, Boston Beer and Diageo-Guinness.  Following the transaction, DBI’s San Jose’s operations will distribute approximately 6 million cases of beverages annually.

The Fox Family’s legacy in the U.S. beer industry dates back to the founding of the Fox Deluxe Brewing Company out of Chicago in 1933.  Michael E. Fox Sr.’s father, J. Raymond Fox, worked for several breweries after leaving Fox Deluxe ultimately retiring as Vice President, GM of the Hamm’s Breweries in San Francisco and Los Angeles.  Michael E. Fox Sr. and his wife, Mary Ellen, founded H&B Beer Sales (Hamm’s & Budweiser) in 1965, eventually changing the name of the company to M.E. Fox & Company, Inc. reflecting their shared initials.  Chairwoman Mary Ellen Fox’s father, James Croke, was General Counsel of the Schlitz Brewery in Milwaukee and was the chief negotiator for all the Milwaukee breweries during the Great Brewery Strike of 1954.  Michael and Mary Ellen’s six children have all either currently or previously worked in the family business.

Terence Fox, President of M.E. Fox, has been named Vice President and General Manager of DBI Beverage San Jose and will oversee the combined operations.  Dennis Fox and Catherine Fox have also accepted senior positions with DBI.  DBI will temporarily operate out of two warehouses, including the current M.E. Fox warehouse, until a new 160,000 sq. ft. facility is completed in the fall of 2016.

“Dennis, Catherine and I,” stated Terence, “are excited to join the growing DBI Beverage team. Though the decision to sell our distribution rights was very emotional, it is wonderful to know that our family’s tradition in the beer business continues.” David Ingram, DBI’s Chairman replied, “M.E. Fox & Company has been a successful distributorship in a growing market with exceptional associates and products. We welcome them to our organization and look forward to the growth this acquisition brings.”

DBI Beverage San Jose is a subsidiary of DBI Beverage Inc. which also operates beverage distributorships in Sacramento, San Francisco, Stockton, Modesto, Napa, Ukiah, Chico and Truckee. With this acquisition, DBI Beverage Inc. will distribute an estimated 31 million cases of beverage products annually and employ approximately 1,175 associates.

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La Vergne, Tennessee, December 9, 2015  — DBI Beverage Inc., corporate parent of a consolidated group comprising one of the largest beverage distributors in California and one of the largest of its kind in the country, has named Mark D. Ramer as Chief Executive Officer, effective February 1, 2016.  Ramer is presently the company’s Chief Operating Officer.  He will succeed Jeffrey D. Skinner, who plans to retire on January 31.  David B. Ingram continues as Chairman.

 Ramer has been with the DBI companies since their inception in 2002, serving first as Chief Information Officer (CIO), then Senior Vice President of Operations, before his promotion to Chief Operating Officer in October of this year.  In those roles Ramer has been instrumental in the growth of DBI, the deployment of new technologies, the oversight of many expansion projects, and the improvement in overall business operations.  In addition to his DBI duties, from 1993 to 2008 Ramer also held the CIO position at DBI’s sister company, Ingram Entertainment Inc.  Prior to that Ramer acquired relevant experience in a variety of companies and capacities that included eight years in wholesale distribution consulting with Arthur Andersen (now Accenture).  Ramer holds a B.S. in Construction Management from Purdue University and a master’s degree from Purdue’s Kannert School of Management.

“Mark has been key to the rapid and profitable growth of the DBI Beverage group over its entire history, deeply involved in all of our strategic initiatives.  Although we will miss Jeff Skinner, we are confident that our momentum will continue under Mark’s proven leadership,” said David Ingram.

DBI Beverage Inc. and Ingram Entertainment Inc. are both owned by David Ingram and headquartered in La Vergne, Tennessee, outside of Nashville.  Ingram founded DBI Beverage in 2002.  Since then, its subsidiaries have acquired distributorships in nine California markets:  Chico, Modesto, Napa, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Jose, Truckee, and Ukiah.  The DBI Beverage group anticipates on an annualized basis approximately $615 million in total revenues and distribution of approximately 30 million cases of beverage product.  More information, including supplier and brand information, is available at www.dbibeverage.com.

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La Vergne, Tennessee, June 14, 2016 — DBI Beverage Inc., parent of a corporate group that on a consolidated basis comprises one of the largest beverage distributors in California and one of the nation’s largest distributors of its kind, has named Paul M. Schmitt as Chief Operating Officer, effective July 18, 2016. Schmitt will come to DBI Beverage from Coors Distributing Company (CDC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MillerCoors LLC located in Denver, Colorado. He will relocate to California and be based in DBI Beverage’s West Sacramento, California facility, reporting to Mark D. Ramer, DBI Beverage’s Chief Executive Officer.

At CDC, which generates $300 million annually in revenue, employs 361 people, and services approximately 4,600 retail customers in the Denver metro area, Schmitt currently serves as Senior Director of Sales and Marketing. In that role, Schmitt leads senior management teams in the areas of off-premise channel sales, on-premise channel sales, specialty markets and concessions sales, marketing, and business development. He also serves on the MillerCoors Central Region Distributor Business Council and the Central Region 3.2 Council. In those capacities Schmitt developed and led the first-ever Talent Exchange Program with MillerCoors and CDC and has been involved in providing insight on various projects for MillerCoors.

Schmitt joined CDC in 2012 after serving as General Manager of the MillerCoors Colorado, Utah, Montana, and Wyoming Management Unit based in Denver, a position to which he was appointed in July 2008 as part of the MillerCoors joint venture integration process. During the eight years prior to that, Schmitt held various positions of increasing responsibility at Coors Brewing Company as General Manager for North and South Carolina, District Business Manager for New York and Vermont, Retail Account Executive covering 19 chains in the Metro New York and northeastern U.S. market areas, and Field Sales Manager covering the Metro New York market, working closely with the Manhattan Beer Team. Schmitt started his beverage career with Pepsi in 1984.

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DBI Beverage Inc. and Ingram Entertainment Inc. are both owned by David Ingram and headquartered in La Vergne, Tennessee, outside of Nashville. Ingram founded DBI Beverage in 2002. Since then, its subsidiaries have acquired distributorships in nine California markets: Chico, Modesto, Napa, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Jose, Truckee, and Ukiah. For 2016, the DBI Beverage group anticipates approximately $615 million in total revenues from distribution of approximately 30 million cases of beverage product. More information, including supplier and brand information, is available at www.dbibeverage.com.

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La Vergne, Tennessee, August 29, 2017 – David B. Ingram, owner of Ingram Entertainment Holdings Inc. and DBI Beverage Inc. announced today his $100,000 gift to the American Red Cross Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund to help the victims of the Houston, TX hurricane disaster. This gift is being made from the David Ingram Advised Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Ingram Entertainment Inc. is the leading national distributor of home entertainment products, including DVDs, Blu-ray, video game hardware and software, audiobooks, and accessories. The company operates from 10 sales and distribution facilities located throughout the United States. DBI Beverage Inc. is one of the leading beverage distributors in the country. The company operates distributorships in nine California markets: Chico, Modesto, Napa, Sacramento, San Francisco, Stockton, San Jose, Truckee, and Ukiah. These distributorships supply thousands of retail accounts with a wide variety of domestic, craft and import beers, specialty waters, energy drinks and soft drinks.

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Nashville, Tenn., January 14, 2019 – Ingram Entertainment Inc. (www.ingramentertainment.com), the leading national distributor of home entertainment products, announced today that it has purchased certain assets of the Baker & Taylor, LLC entertainment products distribution business, such as retail customer agreements for the purchase of video and audio music products. The purchase, which does not involve book products or the Baker & Taylor businesses that provide support and services to public libraries, retail booksellers and publishers, was effective January 11, 2019. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

David Ingram, Chairman of Ingram Entertainment, said structural changes in the physical home entertainment marketplace led to a deal with Baker & Taylor.

“Acquiring these entertainment assets of Baker & Taylor will enhance our financial performance by enabling us to process more units through our existing facilities throughout the country. Those efficiencies will better position us to work with our suppliers to provide our retailers – including former Baker & Taylor retail entertainment customers – with the products they need for the success of their businesses. In short, we look forward to the opportunities this transaction provides for our suppliers, customers, and associates,” said Ingram.

Bob Webb, Ingram Entertainment’s President and CEO, noted that “Baker & Taylor has been a respected competitor and a valued contributor to the home entertainment products distribution business for many years. Ingram Entertainment looks forward to the opportunity to increase our sales of products to video, audio music and online retailers. Webb also expressed appreciation to all the personnel at both Ingram Entertainment and Baker & Taylor who assisted in the purchase and will be assisting in the transition.”

Both Ingram and Webb stressed that Ingram Entertainment will work to make the switch for customers as seamless as possible.

“The sale of our retail entertainment assets to Ingram Entertainment will allow both companies to bring greater value to customers through the strengths of our respective wholesale distribution businesses,” said David Cully, President of Baker & Taylor. “For Baker & Taylor, that means delivering the most innovative and efficient content distribution services to our retail, public library and publisher service customers everywhere.”

Ingram Entertainment Inc. is a financially secure, highly diversified, leading national distributor of home entertainment products in the United States, based in LaVergne, TN (Nashville). The company distributes video products (DVD and Blu-ray), video game hardware, software and accessories, mobile accessories, audio music products, audiobooks and licensed merchandise from six distribution centers throughout the United States. Ingram offers a large product selection, a full array of marketing programs, support services for online retailers, complete and up-to-date product information, and an award winning b2b website. IEI associates, who average over 20 years in the entertainment business, have the experience and ability to adapt to an ever-changing landscape, which gives its customers the edge to remain successful.

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LA VERGNE, TN, July 8, 2019 – DBI Beverage Inc. (DBI) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Harbor Distributing, L.L.C., a Reyes Beer Division company (Harbor), to sell substantially all of the assets of DBI’s beverage distribution business in Northern California. The transaction is scheduled to close in September.
“I am very proud of the business and relationships that DBI has built in Northern California over the years. We wouldn’t be the strong company we are today without our wonderful team of associates. I am confident that the Reyes family will continue to grow our operations and know that our business is in good hands,” said David B. Ingram, Chairman of DBI, about the Harbor transaction.

David B. Ingram entered the alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage distribution business with the acquisition of Crown Distributing Co., Inc., a Coors beer distributor in Memphis, TN, in 2002, followed by the acquisition of Golden Brands Bottling Company, Inc. in San Francisco, CA in 2005. Over the following years, DBI grew to employ more than 1,000 associates, servicing nearly 14,000 retail customers in 29 counties in Northern California, and selling approximately 28 million cases annually, from nearly 100 suppliers, including, MillerCoors LLC, Constellation Brands, Mark Anthony Brands, Boston Beer Co., Sierra Nevada, Heineken USA, Diageo-Guinness, Anchor Brewing Company, Bear Republic, Deschutes, Drakes, Firestone Walker, New Belgium, Russian River, and 21st Amendment.

Tom Reyes, President of Reyes Beer Division West, said, “DBI Beverage is a great company and has strong operations in Northern California. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue to grow our business and expand our footprint to the northern part of the state. We anticipate a smooth transition and look forward to welcoming our new employees and building new relationships in the local communities.”

Tom Day, Chief Executive Officer of Reyes Beer Division, said, “We look forward to building great relationships with our new customers and our new employees. This transaction enables us to take further advantage of our scale while providing more opportunities for our organization. It also marks Reyes Holdings’ continued commitment to invest in the beer business. Over the past year, we’ve grown our operations in Chicago, Richmond, San Diego, Santa Fe Springs and Santa Maria, and we are thrilled to add Northern California to that list.”

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