Peter Mielzynski Agencies (PMA) and Breakthru Beverage Group today announced a new agreement in which Breakthru will become a minority shareholder in the Ontario-based company.
Breakthru joins William Grant & Sons, Distell, Gruppo Italiano Vini, and Peter Mielzynski Jr. as shareholders in PMA.
“The Mielzynski family has been a pillar in the Canadian beverage industry for decades and have built PMA into one of the country’s most reputable brokers,” says Jonathan Yusen, PMA board chairman and William Grant & Sons president and managing director, Americas. “Our new relationship with Breakthru Beverage will allow PMA to continue to expand its capabilities and reach.”
In addition to Breakthru’s shareholder interest, PMA will work with Breakthru to strengthen support services. This includes enhancements to PMA’s finance, IT, HR and sales training programs as well as expertise to grow analytics and trade marketing, the company says.
“Breakthru’s capabilities are among the best in North America and we believe that PMA is in a unique position to leverage Breakthru’s skills, scale and resources to help us take our business to the next level,” says Peter Mielzynski Jr., PMA vice chairman. “Ultimately, by investing in our systems, providing our associates with increased resources, building scale and maximizing coverage, we will become an even more attractive partner for new suppliers that fit with our culture and business model.”
PMA will also organize under a new leadership structure, with Peter Mielzynski Jr. assuming the role of Vice Chairman of the Board and Director of Corporate Affairs. John Donohue, an industry veteran, will join the company as General Manager once the deal closes, anticipated by the end of the month.
Donohue served most recently as Senior Vice President of Breakthru Beverage Canada and was instrumental in establishing and growing the company’s Canadian business.
“Investing in Canada is an important part of our growth strategy and we are excited to expand our efforts there,” says Greg Baird, Breakthru Beverage Group president and CEO. “PMA’s culture and values mirror the family legacies of Breakthru. We look forward to growing together and continuing to add value for our government, retail and on-premise customers.”
