In 1940, the Hertz, Kugelman and Kahn families founded and began to operate Fulton Distributing Company in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1945, the three families opened a competitive Atlanta distributorship and called it Standard Distributors, Inc. In the 1950s, the two Atlanta distributorships changed names – Fulton Distributing became Empire Distributors, Inc. and Standard Distributors became United Distributors, Inc. In addition to Empire and United, the families started three additional distributorships: Fulton Distribution Company (Jacksonville, Florida); Richmond Distributors (Augusta, Georgia); and Standard Distributing Company (Pensacola, Florida). Over the next several decades, the Hertz family managed United, the Kahn family managed Empire and Richmond and the Kugelman family managed the distributorships in Florida. The original founders Max Kahn, Edgar Kugelman and Jennings Hertz are all deceased as well as the second generations of the Kugelman and Hertz families.
In 1982, the three founding families divided ownership of the distributorships among themselves. The Kahn family retained Empire Distributors in Atlanta and the Hertz and Kugelman families retained United Distributors in Atlanta, Richmond Distributors in Augusta and Standard Distributing in Pensacola and Jacksonville. In addition, 1982 was the year Doug Hertz (representing the third generation of the Hertz family) became President of United Distributors. While Standard was sold in 1987, over the two decades following the division of the original distributorships, United made 12 acquisitions throughout Georgia, which provided broad statewide distribution coverage for its spirits and wine brands. During the same period of time, United entered the domestic beer market by acquiring the distribution rights for the Coors Brewing Company in Atlanta and acquiring Kem Distributing of Savannah, which positioned United as a significant wholesaler within Georgia’s Miller Brewing and Heineken distribution networks.
In 1999, with a vision toward future growth and opportunities, United constructed and moved into its current headquarter distribution facility off the East-West Connector in Cobb County. The new facility further enabled United to continue its warehouse and delivery consolidation efforts throughout the state. The capacity in the new facility was critical when, in 2004, United purchased the distribution rights for the Miller Brewing Company in Atlanta from Better Brands, which allowed United to consolidate the MillerCoors footprint in Metro Atlanta and doubled the size of its beer distribution business in the state. Today, United conducts its Georgia operations through its warehouse and delivery operations located in Atlanta (Smyrna), Savannah and Albany.
In 2003, United began its expansion in the Alabama market through a series of acquisitions and joint ventures and quickly became one of the largest wine distributors in Alabama, with operations in Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery and Mobile. In 2010, United combined its operations in Alabama with Johnson Brothers in Alabama to form United-Johnson Brothers of Alabama, LLC. Today, United-Johnson Brothers of Alabama conducts its Alabama operations through its warehouse and delivery operations located in Birmingham and Mobile. For additional information regarding United-Johnson Brothers of Alabama, visit www.ujbal.com to learn more.
With the fourth generation of the Hertz family now in the business, United expects to be among the 2 to 3% of family businesses that are able to transition into the fourth generation and beyond. To do so, the Hertz family is as focused as ever on growing the business and capitalizing on United’s most distinct market advantages – first, our people and second, our ability to realize synergies created through our expertise as one of the only wholesalers in the country that represents, warehouses and distributes material volumes of all three categories of beverage alcohol (wine, spirits and beer) through a centralized location.
With its first 70 years of history written and as the largest beverage alcohol wholesaler on a statewide basis in both Georgia and Alabama, United and United-Johnson Brothers of Alabama are uniquely positioned to service both states unlike any other wholesaler and will remain market leaders and innovators in the beverage distribution industry.