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DISTRIBUTING TASTE, MAKING HISTORY
A fifth-generation family legacy, Columbus Distributing Company is driven by honesty, integrity, and passion
Founded in 1933 at the height of the Prohibition, Columbus Distributing Company( CDC) has spent more than nine decades leading the way in the American beverage landscape. What began as a family venture established by Richard( Dick) Jenkins has transformed into one of Ohio’ s leading wholesale beverage distributors, now spanning multiple counties and representing an expansive portfolio of domestic, craft, and import brands. Still firmly family-owned and operated by the fifth-generation of the Jenkins family, CDC continues to balance a deep respect for its heritage with a clear-eyed focus on the future.
When Food Chain last sat down with Erik Jenkins, President of CDC, he was proud to share insight into the company’ s heritage and strategic growth as it continues to expand on its legacy. Now, one year later, he rejoins us to discuss CDC’ s latest news and dive deeper into the values beating through the heart of the business.
“ 2025 was a really good year for Columbus,” Erik begins.“ We made two acquisitions and have closed on the Columbus, Akron, Canton, and Cleveland markets, which means that, in the last 12 months, we’ ve gone from selling approximately six million cases per year to almost 14 million. To put that growth into
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