Kohler Distributing Company

Kohler Distributing Company, headquartered in Hawthorne, New Jersey, is the largest beer distributor in its northeast New Jersey territory – Bergen, Passaic, Sussex, and Morris counties with recent expansion into Union, Essex and Hudson counties – selling more beer than all its competitors combined. Kohler Distributing Company is a second generation family business that started from humble roots when Andy and Irene Graham purchased the Kohler Distributing Company in 1947. From that small business – selling 50,000 cases annually – Kohler has steadily grown in a 6.1 million case, $120-million, 200-employee, 60-truck operation that ranks in the top 50 beer wholesalers in the entire U.S. Kohler’s growth through the years has been a result of hard work, attentive service, great brands, foresight, and a little bit of luck. Furthermore, the company’s advancement was continued without skipping a beat when the second generation – Gary and Scott Graham – took control of the company when their father retired in 1983. In the ensuing consolidation of brewing companies, brands and wholesalers, Gary and Scott have made proactive steps to not merely survive, but to grow and prosper. As recently as 1990, Kohler was just a 3-million case distributor, with over a dozen competing wholesalers in its market area. In 2004, Kohler invested in the future by opening its 190,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art warehouse and offices in Hawthorne, New Jersey. Today – after 20 consecutive years of growth – Kohler has surpassed 6-million cases in annual sales. Kohler Distributing Company is one of only a handful of servicing wholesalers, and – by far – the biggest in their market area with a 55 share. Kohler looks confidently to the future, with the operational capacity, people resources and management team to keep a step ahead of the ever-changing beer and beverage market.