Expectations were high when Tom Day joined Reyes Beer Division (RBD) in March 2019, and few could argue Day hasn’t lived up to them.
As the CEO of the largest beer distributor in the U.S., Day has overseen a period of growth and acquisitions for the company that makes it an undisputed juggernaut of the industry. (Naturally, its size also makes it a Goliath-like opponent for some smaller distributors and producers.) And it’s done so in some of the country’s largest markets, notably California: In 2020, in the midst of acquiring 10 California distributors over a two-year period, RBD controlled 43% of all beer sold in that state, the U.S.’s largest beer market. In 2021, RBD added two more California wholesalers, collectively responsible for 8.8 million cases of beer, to its portfolio. Last month, RBD broke ground on a new 400,000-square-foot facility in San Diego, capable of distributing more than 16 million cases of beer annually.
Aligning with Constellation Brands, which in the U.S. makes popular beers including Modelo and Corona, Reyes has smartly put itself ahead of the curve when it comes to handling Mexican imports. But Day doesn’t want growth to be the only word associated with Reyes Beer Division.
“While we get a lot of credit for our acquisitions, our main focus will continue to be on investing in what makes us who we are—a family-owned company who believes in investing in our people and communities,” Day said via email. “One thing people may not know about RBD is just how local we are. The vast majority of our companies have been recognized as a best place to work in their local communities—something that our employees take great pride in.”
The easiest prediction anyone could make about the beer industry in 2022? You’ll see RBD, under Day’s leadership, make headlines.
Words,Kate Bernot