From Staff Reports
Eder Bros, Inc., and Allan S. Goodman Inc., two Connecticut-based wine and spirits distributors, will jointly purchase Connecticut statewide distributor Slocum & Sons of North Haven. Eder and Goodman have been joint minority owners of Slocum & Sons since 2008. The acquisition is expected to close in February 2024, subject to regulatory approvals, the companies announced on Jan. 8.
The Slocum acquisition will be the catalyst of an operational combination of Eder Bros., Inc., and Allan S. Goodman Inc. Cutter Smith, President of Eder Bros., and Dave Heller, President of Allan S. Goodman, will lead the organization in the roles of Co-presidents and Directors. The combination will be finalized in 2024.
“We have long admired what Slocum & Sons has achieved in the trade and their terrific portfolio. They are a perfect complement to the strengths of Eder and Goodman. The combination of the skills and resources of the three companies will make us an optimal choice in Connecticut for customers and suppliers alike,” said Smith.
Slocum & Sons’ President Dan Kleeberg said, “With this sale, Slocum & Sons remains Connecticut family owned and managed. I am grateful to the Eder and Goodman organizations for their vision. In addition to creating a market-leading distributorship, this sale provides a future for our employees, which was a key factor in our decision.”
The new Eder, Goodman and Slocum company will feature a statewide sales organization anchored by an Eder-Goodman selling division (a combination of the current Eder and Goodman sales organizations) and a Slocum selling division (current Slocum sales organization), in addition to the Goodman Century Division. Additional specialization in craft spirits, fine wine, on-premise and merchandising will continue to provide further resources to the divisional structure to enhance targeted trade execution, the companies said in a joint news release.
The new structure will create greater efficiency in resource allocation for customer service, supplier management and planning, sales execution and support. The two sales divisions will also provide product focus and strategic supplier alignment to maximize distribution and sales opportunities.
Heller said, “Our customers can expect a seamless transition. We anticipate that Sales Consultants and Field Sales Management for all three companies will continue to service existing territories and customers as they are now for the foreseeable future.” The company plans to create a new stand-alone centralized office for sales and marketing management, customer service, sales support, IT, accounting, and supplier meetings and sales training.
Eder Bros., Inc., servicing Fairfield, New Haven and Litchfield counties, and Allan S. Goodman Inc., servicing Hartford, Tolland, Windham, Middlesex and New London counties, were each established in 1933, the year that Prohibition was repealed. Both Eder and Goodman are independently owned and operated by third-generation Connecticut families. The companies have worked together for decades selling many of the same brands with mutual suppliers. Slocum & Sons has been servicing the entire state of Connecticut since 1976. Starting as the state’s first distributor to be dedicated solely to fine wine, the company in subsequent years built many category-leading brands, adding successful craft and larger-selling artisanal spirits to round out its portfolio.
The combined mission of Eder, Goodman and Slocum & Sons is to provide its employees, customers and suppliers with the highest level of support, service, execution and world-renowned products.
