Columbus & Delmar Distributing Co. purchasing The House of LaRose

Columbus & Delmar Distributing Co. is acquiring Northeast Ohio-based beer and beverage distributor The House of LaRose .

Terms of the deal, which is subject to supplier approvals, were not disclosed.

House of LaRose is headquartered in Brecksville and serves large portions of Northeast Ohio. Columbus & Delmar Distributing is headquartered in Waldo, north of Columbus, and operates in Central Ohio. Both businesses will continue to use their existing company names in the near future, according to a news release from House of LaRose.

The two organizations have worked together for decades, and the acquisition will help House of LaRose better compete in the beverage market, according to the release.

The deal will result in "expanded customer relationships in Ohio's two largest markets, additional product offerings, enhanced purchasing power and the sharing of best management, sales, and operations practices," according to the release.

"The time was right for the LaRose family to move on to the next chapter in our lives," James LaRose, House of LaRose president and chief operating officer, said in a prepared statement. "We are quite pleased the company has great growth potential and will be owned and operated by an Ohio-based family with multiple generations running the business. The LaRose family will continue to lend support to our community, the new organization and to the Jenkins family.”

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose is James LaRose's nephew .

Columbus & Delmar Distributing President Erik Jenkins said in a prepared statement that the business and its owners, the Jenkins family, are "extremely humbled and excited" to continue the LaRose family's legacy with the business.

Thomas P. LaRose founded House of LaRose in 1936, three years after the founding of Columbus & Delmar Distributing.

"As one of the pioneers in our industry, the LaRose family has led the way in defining what it means to run a beer and beverage distribution business that is focused on building brands, building Ohio’s communities, supporting their employees, and bringing people together for the betterment of all," Jenkins said.

House of LaRose's employees will join Columbus & Delmar Distributing's workforce, Jenkins said.

"We are extraordinarily grateful for the more than 85 years of support from our community, our suppliers, our valued customers and especially our team of loyal employees at every level," LaRose said. "We look forward to the continued success of the combined companies.”

The deal is the latest shakeup in Ohio's beer and beverage distribution industry.

Last week, Anheuser-Busch notified the state that it will close its wholesale operation southeast of Canton and lay off 63 employees in October. Sales representatives, warehouse personnel and drivers are among the job titles that will be eliminated.

Anheuser-Busch also announced that The Columbus Distributing Co. would take over its Canton distribution operations. Details of the agreement were not disclosed.

Canton Repository reporter Kelly Byer contributed to this report. Patrick Williams covers growth and development for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at pwilliams@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @pwilliamsOH.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose is James LaRose's brother. Frank LaRose is James LaRose's nephew.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Columbus & Delmar Distributing Co. purchasing The House of LaRose