Beer company buys Carthage distributor

The Beer Company LLC has purchased the assets of Duffy Distributors Inc., making The Beer Company the second-largest wholesaler in southwest Missouri.

Approximately 90 people are employed by the company's facilities in Joplin and Springfield. The current Joplin location and the former Duffy facility in Carthage will be used until the end of the year, at which time the company's new 50,000-square-foot warehouse in Joplin will be finished.

The Springfield facility is at 2860 S. Austin.

The company also announced the hiring of a new president.

Deryl McKinnerney joins the company with more than 15 years of experience in the beer and wine industries. He began his career with the E&J Gallo Winery and most recently was general sales manager for Coors Distributing Company in Denver.

The Beer Company serves a territory consisting of 19 counties in southwest Missouri. It sells Coors, Coors Light, Miller Lite, Miller Genuine Draft, Milwaukee's Best, Keystone Light, Corona, Killian's, Heineken, Guinness, Pabst, Smirnoff Ice, Zima, Skye Blue and other domestic and imported brands.

Bob Walkenhorst, principal of The Beer Company, said the growth would enable the company to offer superior customer service and innovative sales programs.

"Our customers will also benefit from working with one sales force, one delivery truck and writing only one check. Our employees will work for a larger and more viable company."