Monarch Beverage Co., Indiana’s largest beer distributor, generates $67 million a year selling wine. That business will go to Johnson Brothers on Sept. 1, and 100 workers will lose their jobs, after Monarch’s biggest wine supplier, E&J Gallo, said they will pull their line from Monarch because the company can’t also sell Gallo’s growing line of liquor.
Monarch had sought state approval for a plan under which a separate legal entity, but with common ownership, would handle wine and spirits. State officials rejected the plan. Philip A. Terry, president/ceo, has conceded defeat on that issue and doesn’t plan any further efforts to sell spirits.