About Empire Distributors

Our History

Max E. Kahn founded Empire Distributors, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia in 1940 when he purchased Fulton Distributors. The company started with two trucks, eight brands, and 149 accounts. In 1950, he officially changed the name to Empire Distributors, Inc.

Over the years, Max continued to build upon his brand portfolio, adding the Brown Forman line in 1955 and the E&J Gallo wine and spirits portfolio in 1967. The wine and spirits industry in Georgia was also changing. In 1963, fair trade practices were abolished and wholesalers could offer deals for the first time. Empire continued to grow and moved into a new facility in the Fulton Industrial Office Park in 1972.

Four years later, Max Kahn died, and his son Roger Kahn became President of Empire Distributors. Under Roger's leadership, Empire expanded market coverage into the Raleigh, Charlotte and Asheville, North Carolina regions as well as established operations in Macon and Augusta, Georgia. In 1988, Empire purchased State Wholesalers, acquiring great brands such as Dewar's scotch, Evan Williams bourbons, Jagermeister, Sebastiani and Louis Roederer wines, and many, many others.

In 1994, David Kahn, grandson of Max Kahn, succeeded his uncle as President of Empire Georgia. A year later, David's brother Michael Kahn joined him as President of Empire North Carolina. During this time, Empire also started servicing the Savannah and Georgia Coast, making Empire Distributors a statewide wholesaler. In 1998, David and Michael purchased Empire Distributors, Inc. from Roger Kahn.

In 2010, Empire was purchased by McLane Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.

Our Mission

• Our Customer is the most important person in our business.
• Our Customer is not dependent on us – we’re dependent on him.
• Our Customer is not interruption of our work – he is the purpose of our work.
• Our Customer does us a favor when he calls – we are not doing him a favor by serving him.
• Our Customer is part of our business – not an outsider.
• Our Customer is not a cold statistic – he is a human being with feelings and emotions like our own.
• Our Customer is not someone to argue or match wits with.
• Our Customer is a person who brings his wants – it is our job to fill those wants.
• Our Customer is deserving of the most courteous and attentive service we can give.
• Our Customer is the life-blood of our business.