Columbia Distributing buys stake in Hayden Beverage following acquisition of Republic National Distributing and Point Blank
Oregon’s Columbia Distributing is on a spending spree, taking advantage of the shake-up in the hard beverage industry post COVID to snap up Point Blank Distributing in January 2026, and RNDC wine distributor in April, and today announced an investment in Hayden Beverage Company.
Hayden Beverage Company is a family-owned beverage distributor based in Idaho. Previously, Columbia Distributing held a major stake in Idaho’s Scout Beverage distributor, which they sold to Hayden Beverage in summer 2025. This movie essentially foreshadowed the investment in Hayden Beverage announced today.
As part of the proposed transaction, the Hayden ownership group will also take an indirect ownership interest in Columbia, aligning long-term priorities and supporting continued regional growth.
The investment follows a series of strategic moves by both companies. In addition to acquiring 3 wine distributors over the past two years, on May 8, Hayden completed the purchase of RNDC’s equity interest in their Idaho joint venture. Columbia announced a separate agreement involving the acquisition of certain RNDC wine and spirits supplier rights in Oregon and Washington, along with related assets in Alaska. Together, these actions further build a scaled, leading total beverage platform across the Pacific Northwest.
The acquisition of RNDC resulted in the loss of atleast 320 jobs in Washington and South Dakota, 150+ in Oregon and more in Texas. The final result when it all shakes out could be as high as 2,800 jobs lost.
Point Blank Distributing had layoffs of around 177 people after they were acquired, and included the closure of the Portland, Eugene, and Bend, Oregon Distro hubs. Breweries, cideries, and other suppliers have also been forced to enter into new partnerships and/or lose distribution.
However, according to Columbia, there will be no immediate changes to day-to-day operations for Hayden Beverage and no lay-offs or employer changes. Both companies will continue to operate under existing leadership, banners, and licenses, maintaining their local market focus.
“We’ve always worked well with Columbia, sharing information, solving problems, and pushing each other. It feels like we are finally making an informal partnership a formal one,” said Dodds Hayden, Owner/Chairman of Hayden Beverage. “Our mission is to be the best executing distributor in the Northwest, and Columbia has always been our benchmark. This partnership combines a ton of expertise, capability, and strong cultures.”
“This is an exciting step for Columbia, Hayden, and our shared vision for total beverage distribution in the Pacific Northwest,” said Chris Steffanci, President and CEO of Columbia Distributing. “Hayden has built an exceptional business in Idaho with strong supplier relationships, a talented team, and a proven commitment to execution. Together, we are strengthening a true regional platform while maintaining the local relationships that drive long-term success.”
About Columbia Distributing
Since 1935, Columbia Distributing has helped build some of the best-known brands in the beverage business. Today, Columbia’s 2,800 teammates serve more than 24,000 retail customers across Oregon and Washington, covering nearly 170,000 square miles. With the planned expansion into Alaska, Columbia will add approximately 1,125 accounts and extend its reach to more than 835,000 square miles across three states. Columbia’s success is based on a deep-rooted tradition of delivering quality products, timely service and a genuine concern for customers’ needs. This is achieved by providing ongoing, sustainable opportunities and growth for its teammates, customers, suppliers, shareholders and communities. For more information, visit www.coldist.com.
About Hayden Beverage
Hayden Beverage, founded by John Hayden in 1970 and purchased by Dodds Hayden in 2006, is the leading Idaho-based beverage distributor. Built on a multi-division model that brings specialized expertise across categories, channels, and markets, the company serves customers statewide with a portfolio spanning wine, beer, cider, non-alcoholic beverages, and other emerging categories. For more information, visit www.haydenbeverage.com.