RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- One of North Carolina's largest and oldest beer distributors is being bought out.
The News & Observer of Raleigh reports Thursday that R.A. Jeffreys Distributing Co. is buying family-owned Harris Wholesale. The deal is expected to close Jan. 7.
CEO Worth Harris III says the combined company will be among the nation's top 10 Anheuser-Busch distributors. His grandfather founded Harris Wholesale in 1949. The Raleigh-based company distributes beer to more than 3,000 retailers, restaurants and bars in 16 counties.
Harris says the overwhelming majority of Harris' 235 employees are expected to keep their jobs.
It is the latest in a series of acquisitions by R.A. Jeffreys, which has operations in Greenville, Wilmington, New Bern and Goldsboro.
