Southern Wine & Spirits expanding into Ohio

Southern Wine & Spirits expanding into Ohio    Miami-based Southern Wine & Spirits of America Inc., one of the nation's largest wine and spirits distributors and a major ocean shipper, said it will acquire the Paramount Distillers Brokerage operations of Cleveland-based Paramount Distillers Inc. in a transaction expected to close July 31. No terms have been disclosed.
   'This Ohio acquisition represents a significant step in Southern Wine & Spirits of America's ongoing mission to be the broker of choice for its suppliers within the U.S. Control States market,' said Wayne E. Chaplin, president and chief operating officer of Southern Wine & Sprits of America Inc. 'Now with Ohio joining our Control States Group, we will be present in 15 of the 18 Control State jurisdictions in the United States, which is more than any other wine and spirits distribution company in the business.'
   'Our company has been operating in this market since 1934 and we are honored and confident in entrusting the future of our brokerage organization to the Southern Wine & Spirits of America team,' said Robert A. Manchick, chairman of Paramount Distillers Inc. We are certain in their ability to take the business to the next level on behalf of our suppliers and the State of Ohio, which we are proud to serve.'