New US spirits JV provides ‘unique platform’

Brand development company Prairie Creek Beverages and producer Southwest Distillery & Winery have merged their businesses to create a “unique platform” in the US.

Southwest Spirits & Wine produces and markets wine and spirits brands

Both based in Texas, the firms have merged to form the Dallas-headquartered Southwest Spirits & Wine (SSW), described as a “one stop shop” company that will “create, produce, service and market alcohol and wine products”.

SSW will operate out of a 100,000 square foot facility in Dallas, Texas, that was initially acquired by Southwest Distillery & Winery in 2014. The company said its “major focus” will be on the development and acquisition of new brands as it looks to expand its portfolio of agency labels.

Prairie Creek Beverages was formed by Mike Howard in 2013 as a consumer brand development company for the wine and spirits industry and handles brands including the J.R Ewing Bourbon, which was released in celebration of the return of Dallas to TV screens in 2014.

Southwest Distillery & Winery launched in 2014 and by December 2015, after 17 months of operation, had produced 100,000 cases.

Southwest Distillery & Winery’s Sarvesh Sharma will lead SSW was the group’s CEO, while Mike Howard will act as company president.

“Joining forces with Prairie Creek Beverages enables us to expand beyond the distillery by offering our clients a more robust platform in which to launch or enhance their product,” said Sharma. “With this joint venture, we are able to deliver a greater value to customers and for that, we could not be more thrilled.”

Howard added: “With our expanded spirits portfolio and multiple levels of product services offered, we hope to enhance our current relationships with valued distributor partners such as Southern Glazer’s, Breakthru Beverage and RNDC by providing more products and larger sales volume opportunities.”