“ Gateway will be the ideal incubator for brands seeking to
enter and grow in the all-important US market.”
– Ken Aufiero, vice president and general manager, US Beverage
brands still in their infancy out into the market with the right distributors.
“ We have a very diverse portfolio, not just on the beer and spirits side, but also on the Delta−9 and better-for-you beverages side,” DeLuca says.“ The diversity in our portfolio is what makes distributors attracted to us and want to do business with us. Instead of needing to work with different suppliers for different beverages, we are their one-stop-shop.”
With how rapidly the Delta−9 hemp-infused beverages space is growing, US Beverage is preparing to help distributors meet this demand. By April 1st, 2025, the company will have five Delta−9 brands ready to go to market.
“ A lot of these Delta−9 companies are trying to go to market independently and have recognized just how costly this can be, so we’ re offering them the opportunity to go to market and build an infrastructure on the sales, marketing and back house side of the business,” DeLuca says.“ We already have the infrastructure in place to help these brands get into the right markets where it’ s legal.”
US Beverage also has all the connections and relationships with the gatekeepers at certain distributors, allowing them to get brands through the door that otherwise wouldn’ t be given the time of day.
“ We can get those gatekeepers to get us a spot at the table and make a presentation on behalf of our supplier partners," DeLuca adds. •
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16 Beverage Wholesaler • Spring 2026 www. beveragewholesaler. com