Nearly 400 San Antonio workers’ jobs hang in the balance as one of the nation’s top liquor distributors nears a deal to sell its Texas operations to an Illinois-based rival, according to the San Antonio Report.
Republic National Distributing Co., based in Grand Prairie, on the verge of a deal to unload operations in its home state and 10 others to Reyes Beverage Group, a unit of Illinois food-and-beverage giant Reyes Holdings. That transaction will affect the livelihoods of 1,900 Lone Star State workers, including 372 in Bexar County, the online news outlet reports.
Republic informed Texas regulators that it would end employment at six facilities after closing the transaction. It’s unclear how many of those workers will stay on the job after takes over, Republic officials said in a statement.
Reyes officials were unavailable for comment to the San Antonio Report.
“This is a step intended to provide advance notice and to comply with any potential legal requirements and does not represent final employment decisions,” according to Republic’s statement. “Many RNDC associates may have the opportunity to continue their employment with Reyes, and there are no immediate changes to current roles or operations.”
At the same time, Republic National told Texas officials in an April 23 layoff notice that there are no guarantees for workers after it closes the deal.
“We are providing this notice to you at this time since there is no guarantee that Reyes will provide employees with an offer of employment as discussions remain ongoing, and it is not yet known who will be needed to continue employment with the company,” the company said in a state filing obtained by the San Antonio Report.
After the pending sale, Republic National would have 28 remaining markets.
Republic National’s woes began in 2023, when Sazerac Co., owner of brands including Buffalo Trace, Southern Comfort and Svedka, ended its relationship with the company and began working with regional distributors, according to the Express-News. The two ended up in a legal battle that resolved outside of court the following year.
Last June, Republic National announced it would withdraw from California, leaving some 2,500 producers without a distributor, the Express-News reports. The company also has been delinquent on payments to San Antonio-based producers, according to the daily.
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