Does an NC ABC listing mean your spirits will be on the shelf?
No. An NC ABC listing means the Commission has approved a product to be stored in the state warehouse. It does not put the product in any store. Each local ABC board decides what to order for its own stores, within ABC law and Commission rules. A broker presents the product to the boards.
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What an NC ABC Listing Is
No. An NC ABC listing means the Commission has approved a product to be stored in the state warehouse. It does not put the product in any store. Each local ABC board decides what to order for its own stores, within ABC law and Commission rules. A broker presents the product to the boards.
A broker presents your products. The Commission decides whether to list them, and each local board decides what to order for its own stores, within ABC law and Commission rules.
The NC ABC Commission determines which brands may be sold in the state. An ABC store may not sell a spirit that the Commission has not approved. A broker presents your product at the Commission's listing meetings. The broker then tells you if your product was approved.
After approval, the State ABC warehouse assigns the product an allocation. This allows it to be ordered by local boards.
What a Listing Does Not Do
A state listing does not place your product in an ABC store. It is an approval to store in the state warehouse, not a purchase order from any store.
North Carolina has many local ABC boards. These boards are independent local governmental subdivisions. They operate the ABC stores in their specific city or county. All boards must follow ABC law and Commission rules.
Each local board decides what to order for its own stores. A listing does not require a board to stock your product. However, the law does set some limits on a board's choices. For example, there are rules for filling orders from bars and restaurants for regular code items.
How a Listed Product Reaches a Store
The NC ABC Commission makes a good-faith effort to make spirits available to all local boards. This is done without discrimination.
Local boards order listed products from the State ABC warehouse. The Commission adopts the rules for how boards place these orders. The State ABC warehouse then stores and ships the products to the boards.
The local boards buy the spirits and sell them at retail in their ABC stores.
One Retail Price Across the State
The retail price of spirits is generally the same in all ABC stores across the state. This is true unless a specific law says otherwise.
The Commission publishes a Quarterly Price List with this information. You can find more detail on the Commission's Spirituous Liquor Pricing page.
A Listing Can End
An NC ABC listing is not permanent. The Commission holds periodic reviews of listed products. Items that are not selling well can be removed from the approved list.
A local board can also decide to stop offering a product in its stores at any time. This decision is separate from the state's listing status.
How a Brand Builds Demand Board by Board
After a product is listed, a broker shows it to the local ABC boards. Building demand requires a planned, coordinated effort between the broker and the supplier.
Dorado Rock works with bars and restaurants to build demand for the brands we represent. Our services include tastings and events to introduce your products to new customers. We track all on-premise activity in our CRM. Our suppliers get access to a portal with board performance and shipment reporting. We also offer warehousing separate from the State ABC warehouse.
You can learn more about our broker services and see some of the spirits we represent.
Where a Broker Fits In
The supplier chooses its broker to represent its brands in North Carolina. This is a critical partnership for navigating the control state system.
To learn more about the role of a broker, see our guides on if you need a broker to sell spirits in NC and how brokers differ from liquor distributors in NC.
General information, not legal advice. Check current rules with the NC ABC Commission.
Dorado Rock is not affiliated with the NC ABC Commission.
If you have questions about representation for your brand, we can help. Please use our form to contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions About NC Liquor Brokers
Does an NC ABC listing put my spirits in every ABC store?
No. A listing means the Commission has approved the brand to be sold in the state. The Commission makes a good-faith effort, without discrimination, to make the spirituous liquor it distributes available to all local boards. Each local ABC board is independent and decides what to order for its own stores, within ABC law and Commission rules.
Who decides whether a product is listed?
The Commission decides which brands may be sold in North Carolina. The broker presents the product at the Commission's listing meetings and tells the supplier if it is approved.
Does each local board decide what to order?
Each local board buys for its own stores under ABC law and Commission rules. A listing does not require any board to stock a product, but the law sets some limits, for example on filling certain mixed beverage permittee orders for regular code items. Confirm the limits with the Commission.
Is the retail price different from board to board?
Generally not. The Commission's pricing page says the retail price of spirits in ABC stores is uniform throughout the state, unless otherwise provided by law.
Can a listed product come off the list?
Yes. Items that are not selling well can be removed from the Commission's list, and a local board can decide to stop offering a product.
What does a broker do after a product is listed?
The broker shows approved products to local ABC boards. A broker presents products. It does not decide listing or what a board orders. Dorado Rock also works with bars and restaurants to build demand.
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Do you need a broker to sell spirits in North Carolina?
Yes. To sell spirits through North Carolina ABC stores, the Commission requires a supplier to be represented by a resident NC broker. The broker presents the supplier's products at the Commission's listing meetings, then shows approved products to local ABC boards. The supplier chooses the broker.