Total Wine & More facts for kids

Type	Private
Industry	Retail
Founded	1991; 34 years ago (1991) (as Liquor World) Claymont, Delaware, U.S.
Founders	David Trone Robert Trone
Headquarters	North Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.
Number of locations	250 stores (2023)
Products	Wine, spirits, beer, cigars, gifts, accessories
Revenue	US$6 billion (2023)
Total equity	US$2.4 billion (2022)
Number of employees	7,000+ (estimated)

Total Wine & More is a big store chain in America. It was started by two brothers, David and Robert Trone. This company has won awards like "Retailer of the Year" many times. It was recognized by Market Watch in 2006 and Beverage Dynamics in 2008. Wine Enthusiast Magazine also gave it this award in 2004 and 2014. The main office for Total Wine & More is in North Bethesda, Maryland.

How Total Wine & More Started

The Trone family first opened a store called Beer and Soda Warehouse in 1984. A year later, in 1985, they opened another store in the Pittsburgh area. This store was known as Beer and Pop Warehouse. Later, it was called Beer World.

In 1991, David and Robert Trone started their own small store. They named it Liquor World. It was located in Claymont, Delaware. Soon after, they opened a second store in Milltown, Delaware. Liquor World grew steadily throughout the 1990s. It expanded to many places along the East Coast of the U.S.

In 1998, the Trone brothers bought another store chain. This chain was called Total Beverage. They liked the name and changed their business name to Total Wine & More. The company continued to grow. In 2005, they opened stores in Florida. By 2007, they had stores in California and Arizona too.

The company sometimes faced rules about how they could price their products. For example, in 2016, they agreed to follow state rules in Connecticut. They also had discussions about pricing in Massachusetts.

Total Wine & More has only one store in New York State. They tried to open more stores there. However, some plans for new large stores were not approved.

During the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, the company gave its store employees a small pay raise. This was to thank them for their hard work. The pay increase ended in April of that year.

As of October 2023, Total Wine & More had 259 stores. These stores are located in 28 different states. The company also sells products online in 24 states. These are states where selling drinks online is allowed. In October 2023, experts estimated the company was worth about $2.4 billion.

How the Business Works

Total Wine & More is run by a company called Retail Services and Systems. The stores offer a very large selection of products. They also try to keep their prices competitive.

Each Total Wine store usually has about 8,000 different kinds of wines. These wines come from all over the world. They also offer about 3,000 types of spirits. This is allowed in states where spirits can be sold. Plus, they have about 2,500 different beers. The stores also sell other items. These include accessories, gifts, and cigars.

In 2018, the company had around 7,000 employees. About 500 people worked at their main office in Bethesda, Maryland. They also had 800 special wine experts. These experts help customers choose products.

Total Wine provides helpful guides to its customers. These guides cover wine, beer, and spirits. They also have special programs for loyal customers. These programs are often specific to each store's location.

The company's earnings have grown a lot over the years. In 2014, their revenue was estimated to be over $1.5 billion. The co-owner, David Trone, hoped to reach $2 billion in 2015. He also aimed for over $3 billion by 2019. In February 2024, Forbes magazine reported that the company made $6 billion in 2023.

Helping the Community

Total Wine & More believes in giving back. Over the last 20 years, the company says it has given a lot to charities. They have donated more than $100 million. This includes both money and other types of help.

In 2018, the company stated it had donated over $9 million. This money went to more than 13,000 different groups. These groups were in 23 states. Total Wine received an award in 2014 for its community service. This award came from Market Watch magazine. It is a publication for the adult beverage industry.

Marvin Shanken, an editor at Wine Spectator, praised the company. He said that David and Robert Trone put a lot of effort and money into helping their communities. He called their work "truly remarkable."

See also

• Tennessee Wine and Spirits Retailers Assn. v. Thomas