U.S. Beverage Forms Spirits Division

“For nearly three decades, U.S. Beverage has been focused on leveraging our national network to build craft and imported beers and FMB brands,” said Justin Fisch, USB President and CEO. ”As a result of those efforts, we have an exceptional team that can provide a full suite of services for domestic and import brands, including sales and marketing, regulatory, and back-of-house logistics. We’ve also built an outstanding network of large and small distributors across the country so it only makes sense to add a team who can leverage our exceptional skills and existing network to serve spirit brands who are looking for a more efficient route to market to fuel their continued growth.” 

The new division will be led by Ken Aufiero, who joins USB as Director of Spirits. Aufiero brings more than two decades of sales, marketing, distributor and supplier experience in the wine and spirits industry, working for companies such as Bacardi, Fedway Associates and Proximo Spirits. The Spirits Division has recently welcomed new additions to the USB portfolio: Brody’s Crafted Cocktails and Beehive Distilling, which join Dewey Crush who signed with USB earlier in 2024.

According to research conducted by the American Craft Spirits Association, U.S. craft spirits are losing overall market share to large producers as market access becomes increasingly limited. At the same time, craft brands seeking growth beyond their home states are looking for access to a regional footprint. 

“For some time, consolidation has been stifling opportunities for craft spirit brands to get on the radar of the multi-national organizations,” said Fisch. “As a result of our long-term history with most large and mid-tier distributors, we’re able to leverage our volume relationship to help craft brands build the distribution network that fits the next stage of their growth, while adding the brand building programs distributors don’t have time to develop and execute. At the same time, we’re able to take on some of the day-to-day management of spirit brands that distributors face, which streamlines the process for them, while improving the service for suppliers.” 

United States Beverage LLC (USB) is a leading independent beverage company in the United States, specializing in imported and U.S. craft beer, ciders, specialty beverages and spirits. US Beverage provides sales, marketing and route to market services for a diverse portfolio which includes UINTA Brewing Co., acquired by USB in 2022, as well as a global portfolio of premium brands such as Moosehead Lager, Erdinger, Malibu® Splash sparkling malt beverages, Captain Lawrence, Innis & Gunn, Cervecería La Tropical, the Damm portfolio of brands: Estrella Damm Lager, INEDIT, DAURA and DAURA IPA, Czechvar, Superior Cerveza, Birra Moretti, Dragon Stout, Alfa Beer, Sagres, Krusovice, Zagorka, Zajecarsko, Dewey Crush RTD, Brody’s Crafted Cocktails and Beehive Distilling. USB is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut.