Analysis
NAICS 4248 is the 2022 industry group for beer, wine, and distilled alcoholic beverage merchant wholesalers, part of 424 (Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods). Census lists 20 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 4,859 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 215,170 people at an average annual payroll of $77,591 per employee (65th percentile of national industries). 40% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
By establishments it ranks 9th of the 9 codes at this level within Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods, with 4% of them.
Across its national industries Census lists 20 index entries; typical ones are alcoholic beverages (except distilled spirits, wine)… and alcoholic beverages, wine, and distilled spirits merchant….
It splits into 2 more detailed codes. The largest by establishments is 42482 (Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers) with 2,944.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 6% and employment rose 7%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
Official definition
This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of beer, ale, wine, and/or distilled alcoholic beverages.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Index entries (20)
- Alcoholic beverages (except distilled spirits, wine) merchant wholesalers
- Alcoholic beverages, wine, and distilled spirits merchant wholesalers