Hensley & Co.
Hensley Beverage Company, previously known as Hensley & Co., is a wholesaler and distributor for Anheuser-Busch beer, and later for a variety of other brands and drinks, that is headquartered in the West Phoenix area of Phoenix, Arizona. As of 2007, it was the third-largest Anheuser-Busch distributor in the United States and one of the largest privately held companies in Arizona.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Beverages |
| Founded | 1955 |
| Headquarters | Phoenix, Arizona, United States |
Key people |
|
| Products | Distribution of beers, lagers, malt beverages, wines, energy drinks |
| Revenue | $350 million (2009) |
Number of employees | 1,200 (2018) |
| Website | www.hensley.com |
The company was founded in 1955 by Arizona businessman Jim Hensley and steadily grew based upon population growth in the region and a close arrangement with Anheuser-Busch. Following Hensley's death in 2000, his daughter Cindy Hensley McCain became the controlling owner. At the height of prominence of her husband, U.S. Senator and two-time presidential candidate John McCain, Hensley & Co. was arguably the best-known beer distributorship in America.
Previously focused on marketing to the Phoenix, Tempe, and Prescott Valley areas, its size and scope increased significantly with the 2016 acquisition of Tucson-based Golden Eagle Distributors, and again in 2023 with the acquisition of the New Mexico-based Premier Distributing Company. Hensley Beverage Company maintains an active presence in the Phoenix area in terms of sponsorships and charitable giving. Its representatives have held high positions in several city and state business groups and the company is active in political discussions that affect the industry.