Blue Ridge Beverage history

Born in 1947 in Saltville like his father, the younger Archer also served in the military.

By 1952 Miller products became available in all 48 states as well as Hawaii.

1953 A Miller Brewing distributorship is added.

The Archer's family involvement with Blue Ridge dated to 1958 when James M. Archer, Jr., moved to Salem with his wife Regine.

The Company has been under the direct ownership of the Archer family since 1959, when James M. Archer, Jr. and his wife, Regine, moved their family to the Roanoke Valley.

In 1961, the Company entered the wine business by acquiring the distribution rights of an Alexandria, Virginia distributor that was exiting the Roanoke Valley market.

Beer remained the backbone of Blue Ridge's business, however, and the company continued to benefit from the growth of Miller, which by 1968 had become the eighth largest brewer in the United States.

In 1969, tobacco and retailing giant Philip Morris acquired Miller Brewing Company, and, with its new parent’s sales and marketing expertise, Miller exploded in size and became the United States’s second largest brewer.

Throughout the 1970’s, Blue Ridge Beverage’s growth mirrored the fortunes of Miller Brewing, and during this period Miller cited Blue Ridge Beverage as one of its most effective distributors, winning the prestigious Miller Masters Award on several occasions.

James Archer Dies Suddenly: 1972

In a matter of five years, employment increased to more than 30, and included the youngest of the Archer children, Paul, who took over as operations manager in 1975.

Another Archer sibling, James E. Archer, joined the family business in 1983.

To keep pace the business opened a new warehouse in 1985, a 78,000-square-foot structure that would become home to the company's present-day headquarters.

In 1988, Cavalier Beverage purchased the Miller distributorship in Harrisonburg, Virginia, which was renamed Shenandoah Beverage Company and was managed along with the Charlottesville operation as one company.

In 1996, Cavalier acquired the RC Cola franchise and began distributing Canada Dry products, Hawaiian Punch drinks, and Snapple ice tea products.

Several months later, in June 1997, sister company Cavalier was merged into Blue Ridge to create a larger, leaner operation.

Then, in February 1998, Blue Ridge added Lynchburg, Virginia, to the markets for which it held the rights to distribute Miller products.

In 2001, the Company combined the Charlottesville and Harrisonburg operations into a new facility in Waynesboro, Virginia.

2002 Regine Archer steps down as president.

In 2003, Blue Ridge Beverage acquired Dod Distributing Co., Inc.

In 2005, Red Bull North America appointed Blue Ridge Beverage as its distributor of Red Bull Energy Drink in 33 counties and 13 cities of the Company’s territory.

The Company merged Dod’s operation into the Waynesboro facility, and in 2006 the Waynesboro Division won the prestigious President’s Award, given annually to the top twenty Coors distributors nationally.

In 2008, Blue Ridge Beverage acquired Evans Distributing Company, a legacy Miller Brewing Company and E&J Gallo Winery distributor.

In 2009, Blue Ridge Beverage acquired the beer business of Virginia Distributing Company in Lynchburg and Roanoke.

In 2011, New Belgium Brewing Company, the nation’s third largest craft brewer, appointed Blue Ridge Beverage as its distributor for the Company’s entire 49-county, 17-city footprint.

Effective June 18, 2012, RBNA appointed the Company to be its distributor in the Abingdon division’s thirteen counties and three independent cities.