Boulevard Distributor Celebrates Million-Case Milestone

In 1989, John McDonald set out to change the palate of beer-drinking in Kansas City. Since then, Boulevard Brewing grew, expanded, rinsed and repeated until it became an acquisition target for Belgian-based Duvel Mortgaat in 2013.

But not until this year has the Little Brewery That Could pumped 1 million cases of its products into the Kansas City market. The distributor responsible for making that happen, Central States Beverage, announced today that it had reached a threshold never before achieved by a wholesaler in the Boulevard distribution network.

“We’ve had our eye on this goal for the last couple of years,” John Kane, vice president and general manager for Central States said in a release heralding that achievement. “We’ve come close, so close, but always narrowly missed the mark until now.”

Boulevard products are shipped to 29 states, with Central States Beverage selling those lines in the greater Kansas City area since acquiring distribution rights in 2007.

To celebrate that milestone, the brewery and Central States will sponsor a celebration from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday at Kelly’s Westport Inn.

 “This is a great achievement for both Central States Beverage Company & Boulevard Brewing Co.” said Steve Mills, the brewer’s vice president of sales. “It just goes to show that when distributors and brewers work together and execute against a plan, you can achieve special things together. One-million cases of Boulevard sold in a single year–that’s a lot of beer.”