
To sell alcohol in North Carolina, a three-tier system is in place. This means that a supplier must first obtain a Federal Basic Permit, a Certificate of Authority, and a Supplier Permit. The supplier may also appoint a Supplier Representative, who is responsible for showing products to the ABC boards for listing locally. A list of active suppliers and brokers can be found on the NC Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) website, which includes contact information. Additionally, platforms such as Provi can be used to find and connect with distributors and their reps.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Website | NC ABCC, Provi |
| Location | North Carolina |
| Contact | [email protected], [email protected] |
| Distributors | Republic National, Empire Distributors, Bendistillery, BHAWK, Johnson Brothers, Big City Distributors, Filibuster Barrels, Dorado Rock, Fine Mezcal Distributors, Finger Lakes Distilling LLC, Five & 20 Spirits |
| Wholesalers | <co: 10>Beer and Wine wholesalers</co: 10> |
| Permits | <co: 0,1,2,3,4>ABC permits</co: 0,1,2,3,4>, Federal Basic Permit, Certificate of Authority, Supplier Permit, Brokerage Representative Permit |
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What You'll Learn

Broker representatives and permits
In North Carolina, suppliers of spirituous liquor are required to have a Federal Basic Permit, a Certificate of Authority, and a Supplier Permit to conduct business in the state. Suppliers may also appoint a Supplier Representative, who is required to have their own permit. This representative can then showcase products to the ABC boards for local listing.
The supplier must also be represented by a Brokerage, or North Carolina Broker, who must have a Certificate of Authority. The Broker Representative is responsible for ensuring the new company follows specific procedures before the ABC Commission can approve products for sale in the state. This includes ensuring the company has the correct permits, as the ABC Commission requires suppliers to have a Federal Basic Permit, a Certificate of Authority, and a Supplier Permit.
Once approved by the ABC Commission, the Broker Representative can show products to the ABC boards for local listing. The Broker Representative, along with their sales force, must apply for and hold a Brokerage Representative Permit, approved and issued by the NC ABC Commission. The broker is responsible for maintaining an adequate supply of their spirituous liquor at the State ABC warehouse.
If a business has had its permits canceled due to non-renewal or non-registration, it will need to apply for a new ABC permit to resume sales and service of alcohol. The ABC Commission issues permits for retail and commercial activity, as well as one-time permits for limited special occasions and special events.
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Active suppliers and brokers
To conduct business in North Carolina, suppliers of spirituous liquor are required to have a Federal Basic Permit, a Certificate of Authority, and a Supplier Permit. The supplier may also have a Supplier Representative, who also requires a permit. The Supplier Representative can show products to the ABC boards for listing locally. It is required that the supplier be represented by a Brokerage, who is commonly referred to as a North Carolina Broker.
The ABC Commission holds meetings twice yearly to consider products for listing. Companies who wish to sell distilled spirits in the State of North Carolina must be represented by a resident North Carolina Broker. The broker, chosen by the company, will make the presentation of the product(s) at the listing meetings. The markup formula used by North Carolina may be found in the Spirituous Liquor Pricing Breakdown. Your broker will inform you if the product(s) have been approved for listing. Once a product is approved, the ABC warehouse will assign it an allocation. The warehouse, not the ABC Commission, sets policies regarding deliveries. Spirituous liquor products that are not included on the approved state price listing may be approved for special orders. A Spirituous Liquor Special Order is made when a customer contacts a local ABC Board and requests to purchase one or more bottles of spirituous liquor.
For each supplier, the Broker Representative is responsible for following specific procedures for a new company to sell distilled spirits before the ABC Commission can approve products for sale in the State. Once approved at the ABC Commission's annual listing meeting, the Broker Representative can show products to the ABC boards for listing locally. The broker, along with their sales force, must apply for and hold a Brokerage Representative Permit approved and issued by the NC ABC Commission. The broker is responsible for maintaining an adequate supply of their spirituous liquor at the State ABC warehouse. On average, approximately 6 million cases of spirituous liquor are received and shipped out of the warehouse to the local ABC boards annually.
Some examples of active suppliers and brokers in North Carolina include Apothecary Beverage Co., Asheville Distilling Co., Bottle Tree Beverage Co., Charleston Distilling Co., Copper & Kings Amer Brandy Co., and many more.
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Federal Basic Permit, Certificate of Authority, and Supplier Permit
To manufacture, import/export, distribute, bottle, transport, or represent alcoholic beverages in North Carolina, you must obtain an ABC permit. ABC permits are issued by the ABC Commission in accordance with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Laws and Rules of North Carolina, Chapter 18B.
Before beginning business operations, you must first obtain the appropriate state permits/licenses, a federal basic permit, or brewer's notice issued by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).
To obtain a federal basic permit, you must be at least 21 years old and meet other requirements, such as not having been convicted of a felony within the last three years. The federal basic permit allows you to manufacture, import, or wholesale distilled spirits, including alcohol, and is required for any business that intends to engage in these activities.
A Certificate of Authority is required for businesses that want to sell alcohol in North Carolina. This certificate is issued by the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABC) and authorizes the business to sell alcoholic beverages. The business must also obtain a supplier permit from the ABC Commission, which allows it to purchase alcohol from suppliers and sell it to retailers.
The supplier permit is required for any business that wants to act as a middleman between alcohol producers and retailers. It allows the holder to purchase alcohol from producers and sell it to retailers, such as restaurants, hotels, private clubs, grocery stores, and convenience stores. The permit also authorizes the holder to solicit orders for the products they carry and to sell, deliver, and ship alcoholic beverages to licensed retailers.
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Finding reps through Provi
Provi is a B2B alcohol marketplace for bars, restaurants, and retail. It is a platform that allows you to manage your beverage inventory, connect with your reps, and order what you need, all in one place.
Provi's searchable catalog includes most distributors in each state. You can view every distributor's catalog and connect with your reps through the platform. This makes it easier to manage your incoming order communications and increases sales volume for accounts by up to 30% just by being listed in their searchable marketplace.
Through Provi, you can chat with your reps, monitor order statuses through automated notifications, and build an inventory hub to avoid juggling multiple logins, texts, and calls. You can also shop faster and safer with lists, eliminating errors by building shoppable lists to complete orders quickly.
Additionally, Provi provides expert advice, practical how-tos, and marketplace insights. It also offers a free service to organize your beverage orders, with up-to-date contact information for each of your accounts.
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Local representatives
In North Carolina, there is a three-tier system in place that requires companies wishing to sell alcohol in the state to sell and ship their products only to wholesalers. These wholesalers are then able to sell to bars, restaurants, and retailers.
To find local representatives for alcohol distributors in North Carolina, you can refer to the list of active suppliers and brokers provided by the NC ABCC. This list includes contact information for each supplier and broker, including addresses and phone numbers. You can also search for NC ABC Commission-approved wholesalers on the NC ABCC website by entering specific criteria.
Additionally, there are online platforms such as Provi, which serve as a B2B alcohol marketplace for bars, restaurants, and retail businesses. Provi allows businesses to find and connect with reps from various alcohol distributors, making ordering and account management more efficient. It offers a consolidated platform for product discovery, communications, and orders, ensuring that businesses can easily stay in touch with their reps and access product information.
Another way to find local representatives is by visiting the websites of specific alcohol distributors operating in North Carolina, such as Empire Distributors, Inc. These distributor websites often provide information about their local representatives and how to contact them. For example, Empire Distributors mentions its "local Empire Representatives" who are equipped with the latest technology and foster genuine relationships with their clients.
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Frequently asked questions
To conduct business in North Carolina, suppliers of spirituous liquor are required to have a Federal Basic Permit, a Certificate of Authority, and a Supplier Permit. The supplier may also have a Supplier Representative, who also requires a permit.
A Supplier Representative can show products to the ABC boards for listing locally.
A Broker Representative is responsible for following specific procedures for a new company to sell distilled spirits before the ABC Commission can approve products for sale in the state.
You can find a list of active suppliers and brokers on the NC ABC Commission's website.
Yes, Provi is a B2B alcohol marketplace that helps bars, restaurants, and retailers find brands, connect with reps, and place orders.











































