Thriving Together Thursday: Moon Distributors
Some partnerships are built on contracts. Our relationship with Moon Distributors goes far deeper, growing into one of the most trusted and long-standing in the industry.
We began working with Moon Distributors in the 1940s, when our former president Ed Shapira received a call from Harry Hastings Sr., then-president of Moon Distributors — a conversation that would go on to shape the spirits industry in Arkansas. This later became a partnership rooted in shared values, mutual respect, and long-term vision.
That trust proved pivotal when Moon became an early adopter of the new Evan Williams Black Label in the 1950s. The distributor’s belief in the brand helped make it the #1 Bourbon in Arkansas, laying the groundwork for regional and national expansion.
Now in its fourth generation of leadership, the Hastings family continues to lead Moon Distributors with a people-first approach that mirrors our own. “What excites me most is that Heaven Hill values relationships,” says President Lee Hastings. “That’s becoming rare in this industry, and we’re proud to lean into it.”
Arkansas remains a franchise state, meaning Heaven Hill and Moon Distributors are in it for the long haul—and that’s just how both families prefer it. In these states, once a brand chooses a distributor, the bond is built to last.
“Moon Distributors is one of our treasured four-generation relationships. Their loyalty and vision make them a true partner in every sense of the word.” — Max Shapira, Executive Chairman
