Constellation Brands, a New York-based publicly traded alcohol company, has extended its partnership with Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) by signing a new five-year distribution deal.

The new deal, which will be effective from March 2015, will allow RNDC to distribute Constellation’s portfolio of wines and spirits in select US markets.

Under the collaboration, which first began in 2009, RNDC will continue to distribute Constellation’s products in nine markets, including Colorado, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and the District of Columbia.

The latest agreements in North and South Dakota, which began in 2012, will continue for their full, five-year term.

Constellation Brands CEO and president Rob Sands said, "Since we evolved our route-to-market strategy a few years ago with a consolidated distributor network, our work with RNDC has led to improved efficiencies and coordination of marketing and promotional programmes that support our great brands and promote organic growth for the business."

"We are thrilled to extend our relationship with RNDC to continue harnessing the power of our full portfolio into the marketplace and look forward to continued success together," Sands added.

RNDC president Tom Cole said, "The opportunity to continue to be Constellation’s preferred distributor and broker in these nine key markets across the U.S., in addition to the other 10 markets where Constellation and RNDC do business together, further aligns our priorities, incentives, and commitment to bringing these dynamic brands to market."

RNDC has hired around 170 sales people for meeting Constellation’s distribution needs.

With 8,000 employees working nationwide, RNDC is the second largest distributor of premium wine and spirits in the US, with operations in Arizona, Alabama, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.