The first company of the CEDC Group, Carey Agri, was founded in Poland in July 1990. The company’s founders were William O. Carey, Jeffrey Peterson and William V. Carey, the current President and CEO of CEDC. In February 1991, Carey Agri became the exclusive importer of Foster’s and Grolsch beers, as well as Anheuser Busch products, for the territory of Poland. Thanks to the initial success in the distribution of Foster’s beer, which is still exclusively licensed in Poland to Carey Agri, the company quickly expanded its offerings and added other beers from Europe and the U.S. Most of the sales in this period were to wholesale distributors in Poland.

In 1993, while simultaneously creating pioneering retail sales networks in Poland, Carey Agri started to introduce a 24-hour, direct supply system. Carey Agri rented a warehouse facility, expanded its transport base, increased the number of employees and started to sell products directly to groceries and newly-opened pubs. The Warsaw supply model was later reproduced in Kraków (1993), Wrocław (1994), Szczecin (1994), Gdynia (1994), Katowice (1995), Toruń (1995) and Poznań (1996).

CEDC itself was registered as a Carey Agri holding company in 1997. In July 1998, CEDC issued 2 million shares in its initial public offering on the NASDAQ Small Cap market. In June 1999, the company was admitted to trading on the NASDAQ National Market (currently the NASDAQ Global SELECT Market) under the symbol “CEDC”. The proceeds from the first public offering were used to acquire three of the leading regional distributors and a leading Polish wine importer, and for expanding the distribution network in the country.

In the following years, CEDC gradually increased its distribution capacity both organically and by acquisition, and by expanding the network of regional offices. During 20 years of operation, the CEDC Group acquired 18 regional alcoholic beverage distributors, one wine importer (Piwnice Wybornych Win), and three production companies. In 2006, CEDC acquired its first operating company outside of Poland: Bols Hungary, a leading Hungarian importer of alcoholic beverages. In the first quarter of 2008, CEDC purchased a Russian vodka production company producing Parliament Vodka, which was another significant step in our development in one of the fastest growing spirit markets in the world, Central and Eastern Europe.

Historically, CEDC has financed these acquisitions through a combination of cash and shares of CEDC, thus enabling its shareholders to profit from the continued growth and success of the Company. In 2008 CEDC was ranked as the world's largest vodka producer, exceeding the hitherto market leaders. In 2009 CEDC completed its most recent acquisition in the Russian market, purchasing the remaining shares of Russian Alcohol Group.

In 2010, CEDC entered into a new chapter in its history. Having made the decision to focus on the production of its own brands and its portfolio of imported brands, CEDC sold 100% of its wholesale business to Eurocash SA in August of 2010. Eurocash is the leading distributor of Fast Moving Consumer Goods on the Polish market. As a condition of the sale, Eurocash has entered into a six-year agreement with CEDC for the distribution of its own brands and its exclusive import brands in Poland. The sale will allow CEDC to focus on what has become its core business – production and importation.