When shipping liquor, you are dealing with a valuable yet delicate commodity. That’s why the transportation of liquor must be handled by a professional shipper who is accustomed to dealing with delicate bottles and foods.
The following liquor delivery services are some of the largest and most reliable options in the industry. These companies offer liquor delivery services that are efficient, timely and professional.
Quicklook: Best Liquor Delivery Services
- Best For Overall Liquor Delivery: Sysco
- Best For Liquor Line: Performance Foodservice
- Best For Last-Minute Delivery: U.S. Foods
- Best For Distribution Range: McLane Company, Inc.
- Best For Store Locations: Gordon Food Service
- Best For West Coast Distribution: Shamrock Foods
6 Best Liquor Delivery Services
If your business model depends on shipping alcohol, these companies are some of the best liquor delivery providers in the industry.
Sysco
Sysco offers cutting edge business solutions as one of the top leaders in the food delivery industry. They specialize in marketing and distributing food products, including wine and liquor. This company’s customers include restaurants, healthcare businesses, educational facilities and lodging establishments.
Best For: Overall Liquor Delivery
Delivery Area:
- U.S.
- Canada
- U.K.
- Germany
- Belgium
- France
Delivery Fee: Varies by load size
Same or Next-Day Delivery Shipping: Yes
Employees: 71,000+
BBB Rating: A+
Benefits:
- No minimum shipping size for non-contract customers
- Free shipment tracking on app
- Best-in-class service and delivery
- Flat fees on certain deliveries
Disadvantages:
- Complaints about professionalism of drivers
- Complaints from drivers about poor conditions
Performance Foodservice
With over 50 years in business, Performance Foodservice offers exclusive resources for restaurants and other food service providers, including reliable liquor delivery services. Performance Foodservice has its own food and beverage line. The company employs more than 10,500 people, who collectively make more than 6,000 monthly deliveries.
Best For: Liquor Line
Delivery Area: Locations all over the U.S.
Delivery Fee: Varies by shipment type
Same or Next-Day Delivery Shipping: Yes
Employees: 10,500+
BBB Rating: A+
Benefits:
- Excellent customer service
- Dedicated, affordable liquor line
- Large network of over 200,000 products
- Delivers to more than 125,000 customers
Disadvantages:
- Reports of dissatisfied employees regarding the work environment
U.S. Foods
U.S. Foods is the oldest food and liquor delivery distributor in the U.S. The company has an app that is equipped with a lightning-fast interface, which is designed to provide reliable data on all deliveries. Furthermore, U.S. Foods was included in Fast Company magazine’s “Brands That Matter” list for delivery services during the pandemic. The company also offers business services that can help companies of all sizes increase their revenue and grow with success.
Best For: Last-Minute Delivery
Delivery Area: All across the U.S.
Delivery Fee: Varies
Same or Next-Day Delivery Shipping: Yes
Employees: 25,000+
BBB Rating: A+
Benefits:
- Cut-off time of 8 p.m. for next-day deliveries
- Offers delivery six days per week
- No minimum order requirement
- Smaller fleet vehicles to accommodate tight spaces
Disadvantages:
- Complaints of poor work environment
McLane Company, Inc.
McLane Company, Inc., is a large distribution company that offers food and liquor delivery services to convenience stores, mass merchants, drug stores and chain restaurants. The company has 80 distribution centers and services nearly 110,000 locations. McLane offers over 50,000 consumer products to customers around the United States. Also, Empire Distributors, Inc., is the subsidiary of McLane Company that distributes alcoholic beverages, which is how McLane goes about shipping alcohol.
Best For: Distribution Range
Delivery Area: All across the U.S.
Delivery Fee: Varies
Same or Next-Day Delivery Shipping: Yes
Employees: 20,545
BBB Rating: A+
Benefits:
- 80 distribution centers
- One of the nation’s largest private fleets
- Distributes alcohol via Empire Distributors, Inc.
- Offers over 15,000 unique products
- Sells over 10 million cases of beverages annually
Disadvantages:
- Complaints of poor management
- Complaints of poor work-life balance
Gordon Food Service
Gordon Food Service has a 125-year history of nationwide food delivery. Their headquarters are located in Wyoming, Michigan. Customers include schools, universities, healthcare facilities, hotels, stadiums and restaurants. There are over 170 Gordon Food Service Store locations, all of which are dedicated to innovative systems and integrity, including shipping alcohol.
Best For: Physical Store Locations
Delivery Area:
- Canada
- Eastern U.S.
- Southern U.S.
Delivery Fee: Varies
Same or Next-Day Delivery Shipping: Yes
Employees: 20,000
BBB Rating: A+
Benefits:
- Fast deliveries
- Large network
- Physical store locations
- Exceptional employer with good benefits
Disadvantages:
- Complaints of lack of opportunities for advancement
- Complaints of hard labor
Shamrock Foods
Shamrock Foods is a family-owned business that has grown into a national distributor. Customers include restaurants, healthcare facilities, educational facilities, casinos, entertainment facilities, lodging businesses and retailers. As an option when it comes to shipping alcohol, Shamrock Foods operates in 13 Western U.S. states.
Best For: West Coast Distribution
Delivery Area: 13 states on the West Coast
Delivery Fee: Varies
Same or Next-Day Delivery Shipping: Yes
Employees: 3,133 employees
BBB Rating: A+
Benefits:
- Excellent customer service
- Fast delivery
- Offers business solutions, menus and more
- Excellent employee benefits
- Wholesale warehouse locations
Disadvantages:
- Complaints of management
- Little to no work-life balance
What Is a Liquor Driver Service?
A liquor driver delivery service specializes in the distribution of all types of liquor. They tend to deliver alcohol to commercial premises, like restaurants, hotels, casinos and other commercial venues. These drivers are specialized in the proper protocols and safety measures that are necessary to distribute liquor efficiently.
Summary of Best Liquor Delivery Services
In many cases, the best liquor delivery services are also the best food distribution services. Avoid delivery exceptions with these large companies that are known for exceptional service and employment opportunities.
They carry out last mile deliveries as well as nationwide deliveries. Businesses of all sizes can benefit from their efficient, professional distribution processes and tools that drive revenue, which can help to grow companies of all sizes.
FAQ
Yes, you can deliver alcohol through Amazon. Amazon ships all types of alcoholic beverages.
FedEx, UPS and USPS allow consumers to offer shipping alcohol. They will also transport alcohol for commercial purposes.
In addition to the large nationwide distributors listed above, FedEx, UPS and USPS all offer alcohol delivery. Some drone delivery companies are now considering shipping alcohol as well.
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