Jackson Family Wines Partners with Breakthru Beverage Canada

Oct. 6, 2016

Toronto, ON – Jackson Family Wines is establishing a new sales partnership with Breakthru Beverage Canada, transitioning part of its sales operation to the company. Breakthru Beverage will serve as the agent for the majority of the Jackson Family Wines portfolio in Eastern Canada, and will act as an extension to the Summit Fine Wines sales team in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

“We continue to see great growth and consumer demand throughout the Canadian marketplace and it only makes sense to elevate our sales and distribution efforts to meet that demand,” said Nick Bevan, EVP of International Sales for Jackson Family Wines. “The Breakthru Beverage team comprises a large group of very experienced sales professionals with many years’ experience in the Canadian wine market, and can offer efficient national distribution with a far wider reach than with our current model.”

Jackson Family Wines is a family-owned luxury wine company founded by Jess Jackson in 1982. Flagship brands available in the Canadian marketplace include Kendall-Jackson, La Crema, Murphy Goode, Cambria, Stonestreet, Freemark Abbey, Verite, Cardinale and Siduri Wines. Jackson Family Wines has steadily expanded its portfolio through acquisition, including most recently Copain Wines in Healdsburg, California and Penner-Ash Wine Cellars in Oregon’s famed Willamette Valley.

“Jackson Family Wines is among the most successful vintners in North America and we are excited to add this extensive collection of world-class wines to our Canadian portfolio,” said Greg Baird President and CEO of Breakthru Beverage Group. “We have a long history working together and this marks a great extension of our relationship.”

Breakthru Beverage will enhance its Canadian presence and wine-focused expertise by adding to its regional teams in Quebec, Ontario and eastern Canada. The company’s sales associates and commercial planners work closely with provincial and territorial government authorities and independent retailers to provide sales, trend and brand knowledge expertise.

Breakthru Beverage Canada is formerly Wirtz Beverage Canada, which established its brokerage operation in Canada in 2014. The company’s brokerage model has been successful and it will look to build upon that as it expands its portfolio representation throughout the country.