Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits Named Among U.S. News & World Report’s 2026–2027 Best Companies to Work For
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, one of the world’s leading total beverage distributors, has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of its 2026–2027 Best Companies to Work For. The recognition highlights the company’s continued focus on creating a supportive, inclusive, and growth-oriented workplace for its employees.
For the latest ranking period, Southern Glazer’s was rated among the leading companies in the Consumer Products, Internships, and South categories. The recognition reflects factors that are increasingly important to employees and job seekers, including workplace culture, employee benefits, flexibility, career development, stability, and opportunities for professional advancement.
The company said the recognition reinforces its belief that employee success is closely connected to business performance. Southern Glazer’s has continued to invest in programs designed to support employees across different stages of their careers, from interns and recent graduates to experienced professionals and emerging leaders.
“At Southern Glazer’s, we believe that when our team members succeed, our business succeeds,” said Amy Kickham, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. “From comprehensive wellbeing resources and programs that foster belonging to leadership development opportunities that support career advancement, we continue to empower our team members to build meaningful and rewarding careers.”
Focus on Employee Wellbeing
A central component of Southern Glazer’s workplace strategy is its commitment to employee wellbeing. The company provides a broad range of benefits and resources intended to support the physical, psychological, and financial health of its workforce.
One of its signature initiatives is the “Be You, Only Better” (BYOB) wellbeing program. The initiative is designed to provide employees with resources that can help them address different aspects of their personal and professional lives. Areas of support include mental health, physical wellness, financial planning, and broader wellbeing.
By taking a comprehensive approach to employee wellness, Southern Glazer’s aims to help its team members remain healthy, engaged, and prepared to succeed both inside and outside the workplace. The company’s approach recognizes that employees increasingly expect employers to provide meaningful support beyond traditional compensation and benefits.
Building a Culture of Belonging
Southern Glazer’s also emphasizes inclusion and belonging as important elements of its workplace culture. The company encourages team members to bring their authentic selves to work and provides opportunities for employees to connect with colleagues who share common interests, experiences, and perspectives.
Its C.H.E.E.R.S. Business Resource Groups—representing Connecting, Hard-Working, Empowering, Educating, Respecting, and Serving—help foster connections throughout the organization. These groups provide opportunities for employees to engage with one another, celebrate different perspectives, and contribute to an inclusive workplace environment.
The company also supports community involvement through its VolunCheers program. Through volunteer activities and charitable giving initiatives, employees are encouraged to support causes that are meaningful to them while contributing to communities where Southern Glazer’s operates.
These initiatives reflect the company’s broader effort to create a workplace where employees can build professional relationships, participate in community activities, and feel a sense of connection to the organization.
Investing in Career Development
Career development is another major part of Southern Glazer’s employee strategy. The company offers programs designed to provide professional development opportunities throughout the employee journey.
Its Internship and NextGen Rotational Programs are designed to help rising college seniors and recent graduates gain practical experience. Participants work on meaningful projects across different areas of the organization, allowing them to develop business skills while gaining a better understanding of the beverage distribution industry.
The programs also provide Southern Glazer’s with an opportunity to identify and develop future talent. By giving early-career professionals hands-on responsibilities, the company seeks to create a pipeline of employees who can eventually take on larger roles within the business.
For employees already progressing through their careers, Southern Glazer’s offers its Exceptional Leaders Program (ELP). The flagship leadership development initiative is intended to equip emerging leaders with training, experiences, and resources that can help them advance professionally and contribute to organizational growth.
Together, these programs demonstrate the company’s emphasis on developing talent internally and preparing employees for long-term career opportunities.
U.S. News Evaluates Workplace Experience
The U.S. News & World Report Best Companies to Work For rankings provide employers, job seekers, professionals, and human resources leaders with a resource for evaluating workplace quality. The ratings consider several factors that can influence an employee’s experience and decision-making when choosing an employer.
Among the areas examined are compensation and benefits, work-life balance and flexibility, job and company stability, physical and psychological comfort, belonging and esteem, and opportunities for career advancement and professional development.
“The 2026-2027 job market is rapidly shifting the way employers, employees and job seekers think about work, and subsequently, workplace culture,” said Carly Chase, Vice President of Careers at U.S. News. “The list spotlights companies that scored high on multiple metrics that promote a positive work environment and everyday employee experience.”
The methodology is designed to provide a broader view of workplace conditions rather than focusing on a single employee benefit or company attribute.
Data-Driven Ranking Methodology
For the 2026–2027 Best Companies to Work For rankings, U.S. News considered eligible private companies with at least 1,000 employees and more than $500 million in annual revenue, based on information from ZoomInfo. The evaluation also included the 5,000 largest publicly traded companies by market capitalization.
Companies considered for the rankings were required to have at least 75 Glassdoor reviews posted between 2021 and 2025. U.S. News incorporated employee sentiment along with additional data, including regulatory enforcement information, as part of its evaluation.
The methodology was also supported by insights from a panel of experts, helping U.S. News assess the factors that contribute to positive workplace experiences.
For Southern Glazer’s, the recognition places its employee-focused initiatives in the context of a broader workplace environment in which employees increasingly prioritize flexibility, wellbeing, stability, inclusion, and opportunities to build their careers.
Strengthening the Employee Experience
Southern Glazer’s recognition comes as employers across industries continue to compete for talent and adapt to changing expectations around the workplace. Employees are increasingly looking beyond salary when evaluating potential employers, considering factors such as company culture, professional development, wellbeing resources, flexibility, and opportunities for advancement.
By combining wellbeing programs, employee resource groups, community engagement, internships, rotational opportunities, and leadership development, Southern Glazer’s is positioning employee experience as an important part of its broader business strategy.
The company’s inclusion among U.S. News & World Report’s 2026–2027 Best Companies to Work For underscores the importance of these efforts. The recognition also highlights Southern Glazer’s continued commitment to creating an environment where employees can develop their skills, build meaningful careers, connect with colleagues, and contribute to the communities they serve.
As workplace expectations continue to evolve, Southern Glazer’s says it will remain focused on empowering its team members and providing the resources and opportunities needed for them to succeed. The company views its people as a key component of its long-term success and continues to invest in programs intended to make the employee experience more rewarding at every stage of the career journey.
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