Community Involvement | Tryon Distributing

Durham, NC – Tryon Distributing recently presented a check to the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (NCRLA) for $31,658 at the association’s annual meeting. The money directly supported their NC Hospitality Workers Relief Fund, which provides financial assistance to North Carolina’s hospitality employees and students. The money was raised via the fourth annual Tryon Charity Golf Classic that took place in October of 2024, just one week after hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina (WNC). While the check presentation just happened, the funds were able to be released immediately following the tournament, which helped support WNC restaurant and hospitality workers facing hardships instantly after the disaster.

“At Tryon, one of our core values is community engagement. Our charity golf tournament is a way to embrace that core value, and we were thrilled to be able to partner with an organization as fantastic as the NCRLA’s Worker’s Relief Fund for a second year. This year’s tournament came at a very significant time, as we were able to work with the NCRLA to quickly get these funds out to the hospitality workers of WNC immediately following the hurricane. Hospitality workers aren’t just our customers, they are our friends and colleagues, and truly the backbone of our entire industry. I’m grateful that we were able to donate 100% of our proceeds to help them make a positive impact for struggling hospitality employees. I am also extremely proud of everyone at Tryon and all our partners who stepped up to help make this charity golf tournament happen,” said Ed Johnston, President of Tryon.

In the wake of hurricane Helene, the Fund was able to award $740,000 to over 1,800 hospitality workers affected by the hurricane in WNC. Over its lifetime, the Fund has given over $1.9 million to roughly 4,600 grant recipients across the state.

In order to support the workers in the industry, the NCRLA created the NC Hospitality Workers Relief Fund to administer relief for extraordinary hardship and adversity including but not limited to: Lack of access to housing institutions or structures, major health conditions, cost of extraordinary health care, and general decline in the standard of living due to unemployment, underemployment, or other lack of economic opportunities.

The NCRLA is the uniting force of the North Carolina hospitality industry. They impact legislation and policies, cultivate relationships, and provide valuable resources to help members run their hospitality businesses. Their mission is to serve their members by advancing and protecting North Carolina’s hospitality industry by building industry influence, image, and engagement.

Tryon Distributing is a Charlotte-based craft beer and wine distribution company that was founded 40 years ago with three people and has grown into a statewide distributor with almost 300 employees. We are proud to be an independent wholesaler that is family-owned and operated.

Asheville, NC – Last week, Tryon Distributing teamed up with supplier partner Founders Brewing Company, and local nonprofit the French Broad Waterkeeper, to clean up a river in Asheville. About a dozen people across both companies volunteered their time to come together at Hominy Creek River Park, where the group was able to gather over 1200 pounds of debris in just two hours. This was the first of several cleanups that Founders and Tryon will host across the state.

“Our local team was looking for how we could make a bigger impact helping our North Carolina community. Knowing the impact Western NC is still feeling from Hurricane Helene naturally made this area our priority. Jon Stamper and the French Broad Riverkeeper team have been working tirelessly across the region since last Fall and I’m proud to say that following this event, we received confirmation from Buncombe County that Hominy Creek River Park is officially back open to the public! We’re building on this event by hosting additional river clean ups throughout 2025, and hopefully beyond that. I’m excited to see this idea finally come to life and I’m hopeful it will continue to raise awareness and support for the initiatives that Waterkeepers Carolina and the local Riverkeeper groups fight for on behalf of all of us - the right to clean water here in our backyard,” said Founders Regional Market Manager, Jordan Page.

Founded in 2001, the French Broad Riverkeeper serves as a fundamental protector of the French Broad River Watershed in MountainTrue’s Central Region in Western North Carolina. The French Broad Riverkeeper fights for safe and healthy waterways for all residents of the French Broad River Watershed by bringing together local residents and communities to identify pollution sources, enforce and advocate for stronger environmental laws, engage in aquatic ecosystem restoration, and educate and empower the public. The French Broad Riverkeeper serves communities in Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, and Transylvania counties.

President of Tryon Distributing Ed Johnston said, “When the idea of a Western NC cleanup first emerged, we were excited to make it a reality. The enthusiasm from our employees and from the team at Founders was truly inspiring. Tryon is very proud to work with Founders and the French Broad Riverkeeper on this event, and thankful that we share the same moral compass when it comes to demonstrating business leadership via community engagement and betterment. Events like this give us the chance to not only help our community, but also to create great camaraderie between business partners.”

In an effort to further support clean water initiatives in NC, Founders has partnered with the Waterkeepers Carolina and will be donating $1 per case sold throughout the state of their All Day branded products from April 1 to July 31.

Page continued, “Knowing the critical role clean water plays in brewing great beer, it’s a perfect match for us and aligns with how Founders supports Freshwater Future in the Great Lakes. Partnering with Waterkeepers Carolina to drive awareness and fundraising for their mission, while working with the local Riverkeeper and Tryon Distributing teams, provided us an opportunity to maximize our efforts and support for an initiative that impacts our entire state. We’re also thankful for the commitment we’ve had from the entire Founders leadership team to give back to the communities where we live and work. At Founders, what we love most about beer is how it brings people together - and it gets even better when it’s for a great cause.”

Tryon Distributing is a Charlotte-based craft beer and wine distribution company that started 40 years ago with three people and has grown into a statewide distributor with almost 300 employees. Tryon is proud to be family-owned and operated.

Established in 1997, Founders Brewing Company is a nationally recognized brand whose dedication to fresh water has shown through in everything they do. Surrounded by the Great Lakes, they’re devoted to using their freshwater resources in a sustainable fashion to provide the highest quality beer possible – from All Day IPA to craft beer stalwarts like KBS, which celebrates 20 years of barrel-aged excellence this year.

Tryon Distributing recently presented a check to the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (NCRLA) for $28,890 at the association’s annual meeting. The money was raised via the third annual Tryon Charity Golf Classic that took place in late 2023. The funds will go directly to the NCRLA’s foundation to support their NC Hospitality Worker’s Relief Fund, which provides financial assistance to North Carolina’s hospitality employees and students.

“At Tryon, one of our core values is to be a family and community-oriented company. We felt that a charity golf tournament would be a great way to embrace that core value and we were thrilled to be able to partner with an organization as fantastic as the NCRLA. When we read about the aid that they are providing struggling hospitality workers, it just felt right to name them as our beneficiary. Hospitality workers aren’t just our customers, they are our friends and colleagues, and truly the backbone of our entire industry. I’m grateful that we were able to donate 100% of our proceeds to help them make a positive impact for struggling hospitality employees. I am also extremely proud of everyone at Tryon and all of our partners who stepped up to help make this charity golf tournament happen,” said Ed Johnston, President of Tryon.

In order to support the workers in the industry, the NCRLA created the NC Hospitality Workers Relief Fund to administer relief for extraordinary hardship and adversity including but not limited to: Lack of access to housing institutions or structures, major health conditions, cost of extraordinary health care, and general decline in the standard of living due to unemployment, underemployment, or other lack of economic opportunities. Any North Carolina restaurant, hotel, tavern, or hospitality-related business in good standing can submit a recommendation for financial assistance for any employee in need at any time. To date, almost 3,000 grants have been issued to workers totaling over $1.3 million in funds.

“We are thankful to have partners like Tryon Distributing and their employees and suppliers recognize and support NC Hospitality Worker Relief Fund,” said Lynn Minges, President, and CEO of the NCRLA. “Their donation of $28,890 raised at their annual charity golf tournament will go a long way toward helping hospitality industry workers and their families that are facing financial hardships.”

The NCRLA is the uniting force of the North Carolina hospitality industry. They impact legislation and policies, cultivate relationships, and provide valuable resources to help members run their hospitality businesses. Their mission is to serve their members by advancing and protecting North Carolina’s hospitality industry by building industry influence, image, and engagement.

Tryon Distributing is a Charlotte-based craft beer and wine distribution company started 39 years ago with three people and has grown into a statewide distributor with almost 300 employees. We are proud to be an independent wholesaler that is family-owned and operated.

Last week, Tryon Distributing teamed up with supplier partner Victory Brewing Company, for the second Tryon + Victory Volunteer Day. Over a dozen people across both companies volunteered at 1CAN, a local community resource that provides food and hygiene bags to food insecure families and individuals, as well as at-risk youth.

The team of volunteers built and packaged over 500 snack bags for seniors and the homeless.

"We’re thankful for the support of Victory Brewing Co. throughout Charlotte beer stores, bars, and within our taproom, Brewers at 4001 Yancey. The greater Charlotte area is a second home to us, and we strive to give back where we can, including donating our time. This year, it was Tryon Distributing’s turn to identify an organization that we’d collectively support across levels of our organizations. 1CAN’s vision and commitment to support a stronger, healthier community through alleviating food insecurity is admirable, and we’re lucky to play a small part in give-back alongside our dear friends from Tryon," noted Kelly Irvine, Brand Manager of Victory Brewing Company.

The Tryon + Victory Volunteer Day is an initiative that began last year, when both companies identified needs going unmet within their community, and a desire to help make positive change through volunteerism. The initiative seeks out local volunteer opportunities and looks to aid nonprofit efforts by connecting them with Tryon and Victory Brewing employees who are willing to volunteer their time.

President of Tryon Distributing Ed Johnston said, “Getting out and volunteering in our community is something we embrace wholeheartedly at Tryon, which is why it’s one of our core values. Food insecurity is something that no one should have to worry about, so it made me extremely proud to see everyone come together and work with 1CAN to help make a difference in our local community. Tryon is very proud to work with Victory Brewing on this initiative, and thankful that we share the same moral compass when it comes to demonstrating business leadership via community engagement and betterment. These volunteer days give us the chance to not only help our community, but also to create great camaraderie between business partners.”

Charlotte, NC --Tryon Distributing teamed up with supplier partners Owl’s Brew, Gundlach Bundschu, and Founders Brewing to march as one in Charlotte’s Pride Parade. About three dozen people across all companies volunteered their time to come together in Uptown Charlotte, where the group handed out thousands of wildflower seed packets to parade attendees while proudly marching.

President of Tryon Distributing Ed Johnston said, “When the idea of marching in this year’s pride parade first emerged, we were excited to make it a reality. The enthusiasm from our employees and supplier partners was truly inspiring. Tryon is very proud to have worked with our suppliers and Charlotte Pride on this event, and we are thankful that we share the same moral compass when it comes to demonstrating business leadership via community engagement and betterment. Events like this give us the chance to not only engage in our community, but to also create great camaraderie between business partners.”

Charlotte Pride is the leader in LGBTQ visibility in Charlotte and the Carolinas. Charlotte Pride presents and collaborates on programs, projects, and activities, including the annual Charlotte Pride Festival and Parade, Charlotte Latinx Pride, Charlotte Trans Pride, Charlotte Women’s Pride, Charlotte Pride Interfaith Programs, and Reel Out Charlotte, The Queen City’s Annual LGBTQ Film Festival, among others. Since its founding in 2000, Charlotte Pride has expanded its year-round programming and partnerships to better connect community members with its mission, vision, and values. Charlotte Pride is now one of the largest LGBTQ Pride organizations in the American Southeast.

Johnston continued, “The positive environment Charlotte Pride was able to create over the weekend was unparallel, and I can’t wait for us to participate again next year.”

Tryon Distributing is a Charlotte-based craft beer and wine distribution company started 38 years ago with three people and has grown into a statewide distributor with almost 300 employees. Tryon is proud to be family-owned and operated.

Outer Banks, NC – In celebration of Earth Day, Tryon Distributing teamed up with Island Brands USA to host a beach cleanup in Kill Devil Hills. In a little under two hours, enough trash was collected to fill the bed of one employee’s pickup truck.

“At Tryon Distributing we are always trying to do the right thing, which also means doing the right thing for the environment and doing our part to help our coastal communities. It was a blast rolling up our sleeves and getting out there to pick up trash and help make a positive impact in one of our markets across the state. We are very fortunate to have so many passionate people here at Tryon, and I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish. We are hoping for an even bigger cleanup event next year due to how well this year went.” said Ed Johnston, President of Tryon.

The Charleston-based Island Brands recently became a partner of 1% For the Planet, which is an international organization whose members contribute at least one percent of their annual sales to environmental causes. 1% for the Planet represents a global network of businesses, individuals and nonprofit organizations tackling the planet's most pressing environmental issues in an ongoing effort to create a healthier planet.

Island Brands Co-Founder & CEO Scott Hansen said of their efforts, “As members of 1% for the Planet, we at Island pledge to give back 1% of our revenue to approved non-profit organizations working to improve our environment. Whether focused on climate, food, land, water, wildlife or pollution, we want to support local organizations who are already making greener changes in areas where Island Brands beer is sold. On the ground, we have committed to environmental causes by engaging our wholesalers’ teams in community volunteering days, like the recent beach cleanup we did with Tyron Distributing in the Outer Banks.”

Island Brands produces all clean, better for you, super premium beer, using only the highest quality ingredients. A competitively priced mainstream ‘better for you’ beer brand that leverages best in class digital technology and is proudly American made and owned.

Tryon Distributing is a Charlotte-based craft beer and wine distribution company started 37 years ago with three people and has grown into a statewide distributor with almost 300 employees. We are proud to be family-owned and operated.

Charlotte, NC – Last week, Tryon Distributing teamed up with supplier partner Owl’s Brew, and local nonprofit the Catawba Riverkeeper to clean up a local park in observance of Earth Day 2023. About a dozen people across both companies volunteered their time to come together at Robert Haywood Morrison Park near Uptown Charlotte, where the group was able to gather almost 500 pounds of trash in just two hours.

“From day one of its creation, Owl’s Brew has been committed to not only providing clean and healthy beverages for its consumers, but also partnering with local and national companies to better our Earth. I wanted to make a statement that not only is it easy to put good things in your body, but to do good things for your community. We hope to continue to partner with more organizations to better our planet and our drinks for future generations,” said Owl’s Brew North Carolina Territory Manager, Courtney Lowe.

The Catawba Riverkeeper formed in 1997 and their mission is to preserve, protect, and restore the waters of the Catawba-Wateree River basin for all through education, advocacy, and engagement. Knowing that these waters have experienced damage over the years from misuse, unchecked pollution, development, and human irresponsibility, the Riverkeeper works to preserve the quality waters in the basin for future generations through outreach, education, advocacy, and community engagement like group trash clean-ups.

President of Tryon Distributing Ed Johnston said, “When the idea of an Earth Day clean-up first emerged, we were excited to make it a reality. The enthusiasm from our employees and from Owl’s Brew was truly inspiring. Tryon is very proud to work with Owl’s Brew and the Catawba Riverkeeper on this event, and thankful that we share the same moral compass when it comes to demonstrating business leadership via community engagement and betterment. Events like this give us the chance to not only help our community, but also to create great camaraderie between business partners.”

Charlotte, NC – Tryon Distributing recently partnered with the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) for an awareness training to educate employees on recognizing and reporting the warning signs of human trafficking. Tryon’s efforts are part of a nationwide campaign to help combat human trafficking in communities across the United States.

“Human trafficking is a very real and very serious issue both nationally and right here in North Carolina. When we heard about the NBWA’s initiative to train beer wholesalers on how to identify potential human trafficking situations, we knew immediately that we wanted to participate,” said President of Tryon, Ed Johnston.

According to the Charlotte-based anti-human trafficking group A Fresh Start, North Carolina ranks #11 in the nation for human trafficking, and Charlotte ranks #1 in the state. The Raleigh-Durham area and Wilmington are also high on the list due to the ease of access to multiple highways and interstates.

Johnston continued, “The initiative lines up with our core values of giving back to our community and doing the right thing. We applaud the work that the NBWA and A Fresh Start are doing to help stop human trafficking and are happy that we are in a position to support their efforts. It’s our hope that with our entire statewide sales and delivery teams now trained on how to spot the red flags of this terrible crime and how to report it safely, we can begin to help combat the problem.”

Beer distributors collectively visit more than 640,000 retail establishments across the country, including bars, restaurants, hotels, convenience stores, package stores, sports arenas, and grocery stores. They are uniquely positioned to combat this heinous crime given their access to locations at accounts often unseen by the public. The hardworking men and women of Tryon who visit hundreds of licensed retail locations each week, are now prepared to be an extra set of eyes and ears on the ground in the fight against human trafficking.

Tryon Distributing is a Charlotte-based craft beer and wine distribution company started 35 years ago with three people and has grown into a statewide distributor with 270 employees. They were awarded Craft Beer Wholesaler of the Year in 2018 by the National Brewer’s Association. They are proud to be family-owned and operated.

TRYON DISTRIBUTING DONATES OVER $11,000 TO PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH

Charlotte, NC – On Monday, Tryon Distributing presented a check to the Isabella Santos Foundation (ISF) for $11,143.63. The money was raised via the first ever Tryon Charity Golf Classic that took place in late October.

“At Tryon Distributing, one of our core values is to be a family and community-oriented company. We felt that a charity golf tournament would be a great way to embrace that core value and we were thrilled to be able to partner with an organization as fantastic as the ISF. Their tireless efforts to carry out their mission to Beat, Grow, and Live really resonated with us and I’m grateful that we were able to donate 100% of our proceeds to help them achieve their goals. I am also extremely proud of everyone at Tryon and all of our partners who stepped up to help make this charity golf tournament happen,” said Ed Johnston, President of Tryon.

The Charlotte-based ISF is dedicated to improving rare pediatric cancer treatment options in an effort to increase survival rates of kids with cancer. Over the course of twelve years, the ISF has funded nearly $5 million toward expanding the scope of research and treatment and supporting families dealing with cancer in a variety of ways. In 2020, the ISF donated a record $1 Million to support their mission for rare pediatric cancers.

Tryon Beer Specialist Brian St. Clair noted, “Hosting a charity golf tournament was a way to combine two of my passions: golf and beer, while raising money for a great cause. The ISF is a wonderful partner because of their dedication to raise money for a very important cause. I feel very fortunate to be in a position where I can give back to my community. Working at Tryon is more than just a job or a career – it has become a part of who I am. I’m proud to work at a company that always tries to do the right thing, is family owned, and truly cares about its employees and community.”

Tryon Distributing is a Charlotte-based craft beer and wine distribution company started 36 years ago with three people and has grown into a statewide distributor with 270 employees. We are proud to be family-owned and operated.

Charlotte, NC – On Monday, Tryon Distributing teamed up with OneBlood to host its fifth blood drive of the year. Throughout the afternoon, many Charlotte-based Tryon employees stopped by to donate their time and blood to help save a life. These donations will positively impact almost 50 people.

“At Tryon Distributing, being family and community oriented is one of our core values and we feel that hosting blood drives throughout the year is one way that we can give back. Seeing our employees, supplier partners, friends and families signing up to give blood always makes me so proud to be a part of this great company. We are really fortunate to have so many great people within this company,” said Ed Johnston, President of Tryon.

While similar to organizations like the Red Cross, OneBlood maintains affiliations with prominent organizations in the health industry. OneBlood services much of North Carolina, and every blood donation received at Tryon’s warehouse will be used in and around the Charlotte area to help local individuals. This was a key aspect for us, as we strive to help our local community as much as possible.

Johnston continued, “Partnering with OneBlood was especially rewarding because it means the blood that we donated will go directly to helping people in our local community and giving back to the community which has done so much for us over the last 36 years is really amazing.”

Tryon Distributing is a Charlotte-based craft beer and wine distribution company started 36 years ago with three people and has grown into a statewide distributor with 270 employees. We are proud to be family-owned and operated.

Charlotte, NC – Tryon Distributing teamed up with their supplier partners and US Foods to donate “Quarantine Relief Bags” to service industry workers who were affected by restaurant shutdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Roughly 200 restaurant workers lined up in their cars outside Tryon’s Charlotte-based warehouse to pick up a goodie bag in a drive-thru, hands-free transaction run by Tryon employees.

“Restaurants and bars are where we built the Tryon business. They have always been there for us, and we wanted to help the employees,” said Angie Packer, Executive Vice President and Owner of Tryon.

Throughout the pandemic, Tryon has been trying as hard as possible to provide aid their employees, accounts, and community. In early April, Tryon purchased $6,000 worth of gift cards from independently owned restaurants throughout North Carolina, and then handed these gift cards out to their Sales Reps and Team Members on the front lines as a “Thank You” for their efforts. Also, during this time, Tryon elected to give their Drivers hazard pay, at the rate of an extra $10/day that is still in effect now.

Later that month, Tryon was featured in the Charlotte Observer for volunteering their trucks to help deliver groceries to local pantries. See the story here: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article242180696.html

Brad Johnston, President and Owner of Tryon Distributing, said, “It’s the right thing to do and everyone wants to help. We are losing a bunch of money, but we are so much more fortunate than a lot of other businesses. I feel for my restaurant customers and I am good friends with many of them. It breaks my heart. Anything I can do to help; I’ve got the people and vehicles.”

Tryon Distributing is a Charlotte-based craft beer and wine distribution company started 35 years ago with three people and has grown into a statewide distributor with 270 employees. They are proud to be family-owned and operated.

Charlotte, NC –Tryon Distributing has teamed up with Southern Pines Brewing Company (SPBC) to help the people in Texas who have been affected by the recent winter storm surges. For the entire month of March, SPBC will donate a portion of the proceeds from their Texas Rig Imperial IPA to the San Antonio Food Bank. Tryon Distributing will match 100% of SPBC’s donation amount.

“At Tryon we are always looking for ways to support those in need, and the people of Texas need as much as help as they can get right now. That is why I was so excited when the idea of partnering with Southern Pines Brewing Company to donate a portion of Texas Rig sales was proposed. We are lucky to have a partner like Southern Pines that shares our community-driven values and we’re both fortunate to be in a position to help people in Texas who are struggling,” said President of Tryon Distributing, Ed Johnston.

SPBC will kindly donate $1 from every case, $2 from every five-gallon keg, and $5 from every half-barrel of Texas Rig sold throughout the state of North Carolina during the month of March – which will include all the sales of this Imperial IPA from both of SPBC’s taprooms – located in Southern Pines, NC.

According to SPBC CEO Micah Niebauer, “A big part of our company DNA is being contributing members of our community as well as having a love of Texas, so with all the hardships that folks down there have faced, we saw this as a great opportunity to help. Our brewery slogan is Rooted in the Community, and we continually strive as a business to not just make great beer, but to promote the idea of community wherever our brand reaches.”

Texas Rig Imperial IPA is a year-round 8.5% ABV juicy IPA with layers of Citra, Mosaic, Amarillo, and Crystal hops. Niebauer continued, “One of the founding members of our brewery was a Texas native as well, so when we named one of our earliest beers Texas Rig Imperial IPA, the name had its heritage in the pride he took from growing up there. We're excited to assist now in this small but tangible way, and we hope the best for Texans as they recover.”

SPBC opened in 2014 and is proud to be a 100% veteran-owned business in the Sandhills. Niebauer credits his military service for much of the drive, work ethic, and desire he holds to give back to the community by starting a small business.

Tryon Distributing is a Charlotte-based craft beer and wine distribution company started 36 years ago with three people and has grown into a statewide distributor with 270 employees. They are proud to be family-owned and operated.