In the world of alcohol retail, the name Total Wine & More has become synonymous with success. With 263 superstores across the United States and revenues of $6 billion in 2023, it has risen to become the largest alcohol retailer in the country, surpassing Costco and Safeway/Albertsons in wine and spirits sales. But how did this empire come to be? In a recent Zoom interview with Robert Trone, co-owner of Total Wine & More, the answers become clear.
It all started with humble beginnings. Robert and his brother, David, grew up working on a farm in Pennsylvania, surrounded by chickens and pigs. When the farm went bankrupt, their only remaining asset was a small gas station that sold beer. But the brothers saw potential and decided to turn it into something bigger. They transformed that one gas station into a thriving business that now spans the nation.
