Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2016-2031)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $95.4bn in 2026.
Trends and Insights
The three-tier system shapes beer wholesaling, touting opportunity and complexity
- The three-tier system provides a sturdy backbone for regulating beer distribution, fostering an environment that prevents monopolistic control. This structure has been crucial for major brewers like Anheuser-Busch and Molson Coors, which rely on wholesalers to maintain a steady revenue stream and secure regional distribution. The stability is reflected in distributors' relatively steady revenue expansion in recent years, including a 1.0% bump in 2026.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2026-2031)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Meeting shifting preferences will define distributor growth and resilience
- Distributors will need to anticipate and respond to an accelerated pace of consumer taste evolution, with mature craft beer sales plateauing while breweries focus on hyperlocalized releases, premiumization, and experimental brewing to retain market share. This dynamic will test wholesalers’ agility in portfolio management and onboarding of high-potential new brands.
Biggest companies in the Beer Wholesaling in the US
| Company | Market Share (%)
2026 | Revenue ($m)
2026 | Profit ($m)
2026 | Profit Margin (%)
2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Reyes Beverage Group Inc. | 2,765.7 | 234.6 | 8.5 | |
Columbia Distributing | 509.4 | 23.9 | 4.7 | |
DBI Beverage Inc. | 186.7 | 8.8 | 4.7 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Premium, Sub-premium and Super-premium. Premium is the largest segment of the Beer Wholesaling in the US.
Trends and Insights
Premium beer is stable but faces innovation pressures as consumer preferences shift
- Premium domestic beers account for the largest revenue share at around 29.3% in 2026, anchored by legacy brands such as Budweiser, Coors Light and Miller Lite. While these labels remain central in wholesaler portfolios, their growth trajectory is flat because of intense shelf saturation and rising competition from other beverage segments.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
The Beer Wholesaling in the US industry comprises operators that primarily purchase, store, sell and distribute beer and other fermented malt beverages made by the Breweries industry (IBISWorld report 31212).
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Beer Wholesaling industry in the United States include Premium beer, Super-premium beers, Sub-premium beer, Craft beer and Flavored malt beverages.Companies
Companies covered in the Beer Wholesaling industry in the United States include Reyes Beverage Group Inc., Columbia Distributing and DBI Beverage Inc.Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Beer Wholesaling industry in the United States include beer, craft beer, wholesaling, three-tier and excise tax.Industry Code
NAICS 42481 - Beer Wholesaling in the US
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Beer wholesaling thrives on a three-tier distribution system, which fosters intricate yet lucrative opportunities. This system benefits large brewers by providing a consisten...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
- Employees, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
- Businesses, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
- Profit, including historical (2016-2026)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Premium lagers remain the category’s workhorse, not its headline. These staples anchor revenue and loyalty, but saturation and shifting tastes mean distributors must work har...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2026
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2026
- Major market segmentation in 2026
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
The Southeast has become a proving ground for growth-minded distributors. Population gains, friendly regulations and an emerging craft scene favor operators who can handle st...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2026
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each state in 2026
- Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2026
- Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2026
- Number and share of employees in each state in 2026
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Breaking into beer wholesaling isn’t for the faint of heart. New distributors must absorb heavy legal, labor and capital demands before selling a single case, making scale, t...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2021-2026
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
Advanced analytics quickly become table stakes. Reyes’s early investment in a slick digital platform briefly sharpened its edge, but as cloud tools spread, rivals caught up a...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2022 through 2026
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2026
- Overview of Reyes Beverage Group Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2020 through 2026
- Overview of Columbia Distributing's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2020 through 2026
- Overview of DBI Beverage Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2020 through 2026
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Reyes Beverage Group Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Columbia Distributing, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for DBI Beverage Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Public programs quietly keep many beer distributors in the game. From disaster loans and tax credits to rural grants and trade adjustment aid, this safety net lets wholesaler...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2016-2031)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2016-2031)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Product costs remain the gravity well of this business. Even as some pressures ease, fuel swings, complex inventories and brand expectations force wholesalers to squeeze effi...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2026
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2026
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Industry Multiples (2019-2024)
- Industry Tax Structure (2019-2024)
- Income Statement (2019-2024)
- Balance Sheet (2019-2024)
- Liquidity Ratios (2019-2024)
- Coverage Ratios (2019-2024)
- Leverage Ratios (2019-2024)
- Operating Ratios (2019-2024)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2016-2031)
- Revenue per Employee (2016-2031)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2016-2031)
- Employees per Establishment (2016-2031)
- Employees per Enterprise (2016-2031)
- Average Wage (2016-2031)
- Wages/Revenue (2016-2031)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2016-2031)
- IVA/Revenue (2016-2031)
- Imports/Demand (2016-2031)
- Exports/Revenue (2016-2031)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2016-2031)
- IVA (2016-2031)
- Establishments (2016-2031)
- Enterprises (2016-2031)
- Employment (2016-2031)
- Exports (2016-2031)
- Imports (2016-2031)
- Wages (2016-2031)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Beer Wholesaling industry in the United States in 2026?
The market size of the Beer Wholesaling industry in the United States is $95.4bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Beer Wholesaling industry in the United States in 2026?
There are 4,245 businesses in the Beer Wholesaling industry in the United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.3 % between 2021 and 2026.
How may import tariffs affect the Beer Wholesaling industry in the United States?
The Beer Wholesaling industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Beer Wholesaling industry in the United States?
The Beer Wholesaling industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Beer Wholesaling industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Beer Wholesaling industry in the United States has been growing at a CAGR of 1.1 % between 2021 and 2026.
What is the forecast growth of the Beer Wholesaling industry in the United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Beer Wholesaling industry in the United States is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Beer Wholesaling industry in the United States?
The biggest companies operating in the Beer Wholesaling industry in the United States are Reyes Beverage Group Inc., Columbia Distributing and DBI Beverage Inc.
What does the Beer Wholesaling industry in the United States include?
Premium beer and Super-premium beers are part of the Beer Wholesaling industry in the United States.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Beer Wholesaling industry in the United States?
The company holding the most market share in the Beer Wholesaling industry in the United States is Reyes Beverage Group Inc..
How competitive is the Beer Wholesaling industry in the United States?
The level of competition is low and increasing in the Beer Wholesaling industry in the United States.
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in the US include:
- US Census Bureau
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics
- US International Trade Commission
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
