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A century ago, the American prohibition of 1920 was perhaps the most significant event the beverage industry has faced in recent history. The legislation enforced a complete ban on the manufacture, consumption and distribution of alcohol, turning the industry upside down in a 13- year duration that’ ll never be forgotten. From the shadows of the prohibition, however, Columbus Distributing Company emerged, a family-owned beer wholesaler whose journey to success is quite the story.
It all started at the turn of the 20th century with an enterprise called‘ Columbus Coal & Ice’, a coal and ice supplier doubling up as a Ford equipment dealership. However, business began to dwindle as electricity and refrigeration grew prevalent, rendering the company’ s future unviable. Soon after, the prohibition ended, giving
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE JENKINS FAMILY
AND THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF
COLUMBUS DISTRIBUTING!
McGohan Brabender is proud to partner with organizations like Columbus Distributing to deliver benefits strategies that support both their business and their people. Our comprehensive approach combines customized plan designs, strategic innovation, and personalized support to ensure effective benefits management.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORTING THEIR GROWTH.
REIMAGINING EMPLOYEE BENEFITS McGOHANBRABENDER. COM birth to a new era under the name of Columbus Distributing Company( CDC). Founded by Richard( Dick) Jenkins, CDC was the first company in Ohio to be granted a Federal B permit to sell wholesale alcohol – a major development following the long dry period. Its first beer brands were Red Top Brewing of Cincinnati and Atlas Brewing of Chicago, before Dick agreed to meet with Adolphus Busch III in 1941 and formed a handshake agreement to start distributing Anheuser-Busch beer( Budweiser).
Following this partnership, CDC saw fifteen years of continual success before Dick sadly and suddenly passed away. At just 25 years old, Dick’ s son, Paul Jenkins stepped up to run the company, but uncertain years followed. Eventually, in 1979, Paul purchased a small company called DelMar Distributing and sent his son, Paul Jenkins Jr., to run it. With succession plans in place and the craft beer industry rapidly changing, the business experienced tremendous growth and established a robust infrastructure that would see it into the future. Paul Jr took over the company following his father’ s retirement and won the rights to Pennsylvania-based Yuengling Brands, paving the way for CDC’ s current President, Paul Jr.’ s son, Erik Jenkins.
Today, Erik continues to lead the company with Paul Jr. still serving as Chairman and CEO. Presently, CDC operates out of three facilities – two in Columbus and one in Marian County( DelMar Distribution) – with additional infrastructure to be added at its DelMar facility to accommodate further expansion. To learn more, Food Chain sat down with Erik Jenkins, who shares valuable insight into the company’ s present operations and future plans.
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