Johnson Brothers is pleased to announce the appointment of Nate Schmitt as Vice President of National Accounts and Category Management.

Schmitt brings over two decades of commercial experience in the beverage alcohol industry, with a strong record of leading national account teams, driving sustainable sales growth, and fostering retail partnerships. He joins Johnson Brothers from the Kirin-owned New Belgium Brewing, the world’s largest craft brewer, where he most recently served as Vice President of Sales, National Accounts—On- and Off-Premise. In this role, he led high-performing teams, oversaw multimillion-dollar trade investments, and expanded retail presence across key channels.

Before New Belgium, Schmitt spent more than a decade at Diageo North America in roles of increasing responsibility, ultimately serving as National Accounts Sales Director. His early career in Category Management provided a deep expertise in shopper insights, data analytics, and market strategy—critical skills that have informed his success in aligning supplier objectives with customer growth.

“Nate brings a high level of commercial acumen and national account expertise that will strengthen our customer partnerships and enhance our capabilities,” said George Marsden, Chief Commercial Officer at Johnson Brothers. “His leadership will be instrumental as we continue to evolve our category approach and deliver long-term value to our supplier and retail partners.”

Johnson Brothers today announced that it has signed an agreement to expand its North Carolina operations through the acquisition of Albemarle Distributing Company’s wine business in the eastern part of the state.

Albemarle Distributing, a long-standing, family-run beverage distributor based in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, will transition its wine business to Johnson Brothers effective May 5, 2025. This acquisition strengthens Johnson Brothers’ presence in the Outer Banks and surrounding markets, supporting the company’s long-term growth strategy in the region.

Founded in 1960, Albemarle Distributing has provided 65 years of quality service to customers and supplier partners. Johnson Brothers has operated in North Carolina since 1975 and remains committed to delivering exceptional service and strong supplier relationships across the state.

“Our family has proudly served this market for decades,” said Johnnie Rowe, Albemarle Distributing, President. “Johnson Brothers shares our commitment to excellence, making this transition a natural fit. We are confident that our customers and brands will continue to thrive under their leadership.”

“We are excited to welcome Albemarle Distributing’s wine portfolio into our company,” said Scott Cash, Johnson Brothers, President – East Region. “This acquisition expands our reach while reinforcing our focus on quality service and strong partnerships. Albemarle’s market knowledge and deep customer relationships are a great complement to our operations, and we look forward to building on their legacy.”

About Johnson Brothers

Johnson Brothers is a multi-generational family-owned wine, beer, and spirits distributor in the United States. Founded by Lynn Johnson in 1953, the company upholds its founding values of work ethic, passion, innovation, teamwork, excellence, and integrity. Through forging strong partnerships with top-tier suppliers globally, Johnson Brothers offers an exceptional portfolio of world-class brands to customer partners across 17 states. With a dedicated team of 4,000, Johnson Brothers remains committed to delivering excellence and continued growth across its operations. For the second consecutive year, Johnson Brothers has been honored as one of the Most Trustworthy Companies in America by Newsweek. For more information about Johnson Brothers, please visit Johnsonbrothers.com | LinkedIn | Instagram.

About Albemarle Distributing

Founded in 1960 by Francis Rowe, Albemarle Distributing has grown from a small beer distributor into a leading beverage distributor in eastern North Carolina. With a diverse portfolio that includes wines, soft drinks, and new-age beverages, the family-owned company has built a reputation for quality service and strong customer relationships. Now led by the second and third generations of the Rowe family, Albemarle Distributing continues to evolve while maintaining its deep-rooted commitment to the community and the beverage industry. Operating from its headquarters in Elizabeth City, the company serves customers across 15 counties.

Johnson Brothers is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Hodges as General Manager for Johnson Brothers of Virginia, effective immediately.

Hodges brings over 12 years of hands-on leadership experience in the beverage alcohol industry, all with Johnson Brothers-Mutual Distributing of North Carolina. Since joining the company in 2012, Hodges has built a reputation for delivering results through strong execution, accountability, and commercial expertise. He has excelled in key roles, including Retail Sales Director and, most recently, Statewide On-Premise Sales Director, where he consistently drove performance, optimized processes, and upheld a high standard of operational excellence.

Hodges’ dedication to execution, accountability, and enhancing commercial capabilities makes him uniquely qualified to lead Johnson Brothers of Virginia into its next chapter of growth and success.

“We are thrilled to welcome Brian into this leadership role,” said Scott Cash, President, East Region. “His proven track record of driving growth and his commitment to team success will be invaluable as we continue to expand our operations in Virginia.”