James Edward & Companies

James Edward and Companies began in 1994 as a full service broker firm that helped innovative beverage brands set up distribution. In the early 1990’s, Red Bull was already an established brand in Europe, however, it was virtually unknown in the U.S. In 1997, Red Bull North America was founded, and began distribution of Red Bull in America. James (Jim) Rubenstein, President and CEO of James Edward and Companies, Inc., was intrigued by the “Red Bull phenomenon” that was sweeping over Europe. Jim was sure that it could become more than just a popular drink in the U.S. In 1997, Jim wrote to Red Bull and asked to broker their product in the U.S. through his current food and beverage brokerage firm at the time. However, Red Bull was looking for independent distributors, not brokers. If Jim wanted to be a part of the Red Bull brand, he would have to start an entirely new company. Convinced of Red Bull’s potential, Jim and his partners mobilized into action. James Edward and Companies is located in Houston, Texas and operates with 15 dedicated employees to service as a Corporate hub for Matador, Viva and Chaparral Distributing. Today, James Edward and Companies services more than 13,000 retailers alongside its three distribution companies, houses over 280 employees, and is continuously growing!