Harvey Chaplin, the Visionary Who Modernized the Liquor Industry, Passes Away at 95

Harvey Chaplin transformed a humble wine and spirits distributor into a national powerhouse worth billions of dollars.

Harvey Chaplin, the chairman of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, was a determined business mogul who expanded a small distributor in Florida into a colossal, multibillion-dollar enterprise. He died of natural causes on Sunday, June 9, at the age of 95.

“Harvey was undoubtedly one of the great pioneers and visionaries in our industry,” stated Marvin R. Shanken, chairman of M. Shanken Communications, Inc. “His contributions to the wine and spirits sector are unforgettable.”

Chaplin’s career began in 1944 while he was still attending high school, initially working in the mailroom at Schenley Industries, a major alcohol company at the time. His tenure at Schenley lasted 16 years, culminating in his role as assistant director of sales. In the 1960s, he transitioned to a Schenley distributor in upstate New York, eventually finding his niche. By the end of the decade, Chaplin left to co-found a new wholesaler in Miami called Southern Wine & Spirits of America (SWS).

SWS was established in 1968 and rapidly expanded across Florida. In the following year, the company took a chance and purchased a struggling Californian distributor named Landfield, which had revenues under $100 million. At the time, the distribution landscape in California was quite divided, with a clear distinction between its northern and southern regions, and Landfield primarily operated in the south. In 1984, to strengthen its presence in the north, SWS acquired another distributor, Grape Empire.

During this era, one key player, Chaplin, was instrumental in securing exclusive distribution rights across California, dedicating significant time there to establish what would become a pivotal part of SWS’s growth across the nation. Chaplin reflected on this in a 2008 interview with Marvin R. Shanken, calling California the transformative element in SWS’s approach to business.

By 1990, SWS boasted sales of $1.3 billion and operations in Florida, California, and Nevada, becoming the leading distributor of spirits and wine in the nation—a title it has maintained. The 1990s saw further growth with entry into South Carolina, Kentucky, New Mexico, Arizona, and Hawaii, pushing revenues to $3.5 billion by the year 2000.

Harvey Chaplin saw this as just the beginning. From 2000 to 2015, SWS was a major player in industry consolidation and expansion, being a crucial component of the distribution sector from its strategic second-tier position. By 2005, annual revenues had reached $6.2 billion with the company serving 19 states. By 2015, SWS doubled its sales to $11.8 billion and increased its market presence to 35 regions, capturing almost 25 percent of the U.S. market for spirit and wine distribution.

In January 2016, SWS made a significant move by partnering with Texas-based Glazer’s Inc., forming a distribution giant that now spans 44 states, Washington, D.C., Canada, and the Caribbean. At the merger’s inception, SWS’s $11.8 billion in revenue merged with Glazer’s $3.7 billion, creating a combined entity worth $15 billion. This figure has since escalated to $26 billion.

Upon forming the new Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (SGWS), Chaplin took on the role of chairman, while former Glazer’s chairman Bennett Glazer was named executive vice chairman. Chaplin’s son, Wayne, who was the longstanding president and CEO of SWS before the merger, was appointed CEO, and ex-Glazer’s CEO Shelly Stein assumed the presidency.

The merger marked SGWS as the first truly national distributor in the industry and stood as the crowning achievement of Harvey Chaplin’s illustrious career. In a January 2016 exclusive interview with Shanken News Daily, he expressed, “It’s a wonderful feeling to get this deal done. We’ll now set about growing the business.”

Reflecting on the company’s origins in 1968, Wayne Chaplin shared in the interview, “I think about Southern Wine & Spirits’ humble beginnings, when we faced numerous long-established competitors since Prohibition. Reaching this level, driven by my father’s vision to expand and continuously take bold risks, represents an incredible journey.”

For more wine industry news, visit Shanken News Daily.

About the Author: Chris Lehoux

Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored!