Louis Glazer moves to Dallas, Texas with his wife Bessie and opens the Jumbo Bottling Company. They distribute flavored soda water from the back of horse-drawn wagons.
1933
Huge steps forward
With the repeal of Prohibition, three of Louis Glazer’s sons Max, Fritz, and Nolan start Glazer’s Wholesale Distributors. The company is appointed Schlitz Beer distributor for Dallas, population 265,000.
1946
The birth of Southern
Harvey Chaplin, one of the original founders of Southern Wine & Spirits, begins his career in the spirits industry working for Schenley Industries in Manhattan, a leading distilled spirits marketer and the American importer of Dewar's White Label Scotch.
1968
Setting the foundation
Bennet Glazer joins Glazer’s Inc.
Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. is established in Miami.
1984
The next generation
Wayne Chaplin, Harvey’s son, joins Southern. The company becomes the first distributor to gain a statewide network in California and begins more than a decade long period of rapid geographic expansion.
1992
Taking the lead
Southern Wine & Spirits becomes the largest U.S. beverage alcohol wholesaler.
2015
Investing in technology
Southern Wine & Spirits deploys leading supply chain technologies and establishes the first regional distribution center in the wine and spirits industry in Tracy, California.
2016
Welcoming Southern Glazer's
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is formed, creating the only comprehensive North American beverage distribution footprint.
2017
Helping young people make informed choices
We established the Youth Alcohol Awareness & Education Foundation, Inc., devoted to the prevention of underage drinking.
2018
Expanding volunteerism and stepping into new areas
Great North Distributors, Canada's first national sales broker for legalized-adult use cannabis, is established.
VolunCheers, an internal program that enables employees to connect with each other online and organize volunteering and fundraising activities, launches nationally.
2019
A leader in eCommerce
Southern Glazer’s launches of Proof®, an industry-leading B2B eCommerce experience for its customers.
2020
Committing to racial equality
With intention, Southern Glazer’s ramps up the work of promoting of racial equality, from philanthropic grants and community education programming, to internal workplace initiatives and programs to support Black- and minority-owned wine and spirits businesses.
2021
Celebrating success by giving back
In honor of the five year anniversary of the combination of Southern Wine & Spirits and Glazer's, we shared our success with communities we serve through our "5-50-500" campaign, donating $10,000 to 50 charities for a total of $500,000 in donations to nonprofits selected by our own employees.
2022
Recognition for diversity
In 2022, Southern Glazer’s was included in Forbes list of Best Employers for Diversity 2022. Commenting on the recognition, CEO Wayne E. Chaplin said, “We work hard to foster a workplace that is welcoming to all members of our Southern Glazer’s FAMILY. It’s important that all of our employees feel comfortable showing up as their most authentic selves.”
2023
International expansion
To create another connection point for suppliers looking for expert route-to-market capabilities in the Atlantic Basin, Southern Glazer’s acquired WEBB Banks, the leading premium wine and spirits distributor in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, as well as the travel retail and cruise sector.
