Tippecanoe Beverage is the Anheuser-Busch products distributor for a large portion of northwestern Indiana. The company was founded in 1954 by George Zahrt and Clarence Battenfield. A few years later Zahrt bought out the partnership, and the business has been operated continuously as a privately-owned company by the Zahrt family since that time.

The new buyers are Mid-America Beverages Company of Kokomo and Calumet Breweries of Hammond. The Zahrts confirmed that it is anticipated the two buyers will divide the distribution routes and close the Winamac facility. Many Tippecanoe Beverage employees will have an opportunity to apply for employment with the new owners.

"We were approached with an offer and the timing seemed right," Fred Zahrt said of the decision to sell. "We deeply appreciate the service of our employees over the years and the opportunity to serve our customers."

Tippecanoe Beverages has over 40 full- and part-time employees.

Mid-America Beverage Inc. was founded in 1934, at the end of Prohibition, by Albert Miller and was originally named Albert R. Miller Beverage. The name was changed from Miller Beverage to Mid-America Beverage, Inc. in 1994. Over the decades the business expanded and moved a couple of times to larger facilities in Kokomo. In 1997 the company moved to a new 65,000 square-foot warehouse at 2755 Commerce Drive in Kokomo. Three years later the warehouse was expanded to 110,00 square-feet. Mid-America currently services Cass, Carroll, Grant, Howard, Tippecanoe, Tipton and Western Hamilton counties in Indiana, and serves approximately 575 accounts with 12 routes.

Calumet Breweries Inc. is also a beverage distributor, a private company established in 1955.