Industry · Form 5500 business code 312140
Distilleries: retirement plans
Plans whose sponsor entered this principal business activity code on Form 5500.
Form 5500 information is as filed by the plan administrator with the Department of Labor and may be amended. Figures reflect the plan year shown, not current balances. The business code is chosen by the filer from the list in the Form 5500 instructions.
For plan year 2024, 37 retirement plans in distilleries with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500: 24 defined contribution and 13 defined benefit. They reported 38,187 participant records and $4.80B in net assets, counting every plan on the form.
The median defined contribution plan held $79,838 per participant, well above the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $2,810 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $67.21 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $107M and participants $155M during the year, and the plans paid out $416M in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 47 plans with $2.48B; by 2024 it was 37 plans (down 21%) and $4.80B (up 94%). From plan year 2023 the 100-participant line counts participants with account balances, which moved many plans to the short form.
Medians compared with all US plans
| Median plan, plan year 2024 | Industry: DC | US: DC | Industry: DB | US: DB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $79,838 | $53,031 | $110,868 | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $2,810 | $2,174 | $4,085 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $67.21 | $123 | $335 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.07% | 0.26% | 0.44% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $72.54 | $116 | $335 | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (24 DC and 13 DB plans with a Schedule H here). Fee medians cover plans reporting an amount. DC: defined contribution, such as 401(k) and 403(b). DB: defined benefit pension.
Distribution of DC plans
| Measure | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $34,643 | $79,838 | $127,795 | 24 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $1,201 | $2,810 | $5,785 | 22 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $41.30 | $67.21 | $86.36 | 20 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $34.13 | $72.54 | $92.09 | 22 |
Trend by plan year
| Plan year | Plans 100+ | Participants | Net assets | Employer contributions | Participant contributions | Median DC assets / participant | Median DC Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 37 | 38,187 | $4.80B | $107M | $155M | $79,838 | $67.21 |
| 2023 | 40 | 39,315 | $4.54B | $106M | $150M | $66,352 | $55.16 |
| 2022 | 44 | 38,033 | $4.19B | $94.3M | $140M | $32,515 | $57.41 |
| 2021 | 44 | 36,129 | $5.08B | $87.7M | $125M | $53,380 | $61.60 |
| 2020 | 40 | 34,307 | $4.74B | $76.6M | $114M | $59,394 | $50.94 |
| 2019 | 40 | 41,849 | $5.37B | $100M | $127M | $68,934 | $68.51 |
| 2018 | 41 | 43,261 | $4.62B | $122M | $119M | $54,425 | $41.55 |
| 2017 | 38 | 40,676 | $5.00B | $242M | $107M | $71,337 | $35.26 |
| 2016 | 38 | 42,141 | $4.20B | $118M | $97.1M | $52,946 | $26.52 |
| 2015 | 37 | 41,610 | $3.83B | $130M | $87.9M | $43,821 | $21.86 |
| 2014 | 38 | 42,615 | $4.03B | $133M | $91.0M | $49,475 | $32.95 |
| 2013 | 37 | 41,617 | $3.70B | $115M | $74.2M | $38,507 | $21.11 |
| 2012 | 38 | 41,249 | $3.29B | $124M | $75.4M | $47,941 | $20.57 |
| 2011 | 39 | 40,591 | $2.92B | $145M | $70.0M | $40,371 | $17.37 |
| 2010 | 43 | 36,536 | $2.48B | $207M | $56.9M | $41,637 | $14.74 |
| 2009 | 47 | 42,498 | $2.48B | $111M | $70.1M | $38,602 | $15.65 |
Plan year is the year in which the plan year began. The drop in large plans from 2023 follows a rule change: the 100-participant line now counts participants with account balances, so many plans moved to the short form.
Provider share
Service provider organisations named most often on the Schedule C of the 35 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 35 largest by participants of 35 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | State | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constellation Brands, Inc. 401(k) and Profit Sharing Plan | Constellation Brands, Inc. | NY | DC | 5,881 | $1.10B | $187,576 | $6,762 | $68.49 |
| Diageo North America, Inc. Cash Balance Pension Plan | Diageo North America, Inc. | NY | DB | 4,189 | $530M | $126,464 | $6,431 | — |
| Sazerac Company, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Sazerac Company, Inc. | KY | DC | 4,007 | $167M | $41,577 | $2,249 | $59.01 |
| Diageo North America, Inc. Savings Plan | Diageo North America, Inc. | NY | DC | 2,958 | $440M | $148,858 | — | — |
| Brown-Forman Corporation Salaried Employees Retirement Plan | Brown-Forman Corporation | KY | DB | 2,908 | $478M | $164,320 | $3,964 | $203 |
| Brown-Forman Corporation Savings Plan | Brown-Forman Corporation | KY | DC | 2,709 | $649M | $239,406 | $5,902 | $62.71 |
| Sazerac Company, Inc. 401(k) Plan for Union Employees | Sazerac Company, Inc. | KY | DC | 1,588 | $103M | $64,709 | $2,735 | $83.77 |
| Bacardi U.S.A., Inc. & Affiliates 401(k) Savings and DC Retirement Plan | Bacardi U.S.A., Inc. | FL | DC | 1,566 | $290M | $185,167 | $9,858 | $332 |
| Beam Pension Plan | Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. | IL | DB | 1,210 | $159M | $131,306 | — | $583 |
| Fifth Generation, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Fifth Generation, Inc. | TX | DC | 831 | $105M | $126,536 | $13,597 | $63.96 |
| Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. Savings and Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees | Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. | KY | DC | 823 | $65.2M | $79,257 | $2,884 | $34.52 |
| Brown-Forman Corporation Hourly Employees Retirement Plan | Brown-Forman Corporation | KY | DB | 779 | $50.9M | $65,302 | $4,205 | $121 |
| Diageo North America, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan for Union Employees | Diageo North America, Inc. | NY | DC | 727 | $13.8M | $19,006 | — | — |
| Jim Beam Brands Company Union 401(k) Plan | Jim Beam Brands Co. | IL | DC | 715 | $57.5M | $80,419 | $2,912 | $43.13 |
| M.S. Walker Retirement Trust | M. S. Walker, Inc. | MA | DC | 662 | $62.1M | $93,843 | $0 | $35.80 |
| The Pension Plan for Hourly Paid Employees of Diageo North America, Inc. at Its Plant at Plainfield, Il | Diageo North America, Inc. | NY | DB | 648 | $56.4M | $87,000 | $6,865 | — |
| Ole Smoky Distillery, LLC 401(k) Plan | Ole Smoky Distillery, LLC | TN | DC | 604 | $7.0M | $11,553 | $1,259 | $22.50 |
| MGP Ingredients Non-Union 401(k) & Profit Sharing Plan | Mgpi Processing, Inc. | KS | DC | 595 | $58.4M | $98,071 | $5,432 | $79.68 |
| Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. Savings and Retirement Plan for Collective Bargaining Employees | Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. | KY | DC | 491 | $35.5M | $72,201 | $1,092 | $6.05 |
| Brown-Forman Corporation Savings Plan for Collectively Bargained Employee | Brown-Forman Corporation | KY | DC | 421 | $35.9M | $85,230 | $2,418 | $65.93 |
| Retirement Plan for Employees of Bacardi Corporation | Bacardi Corporation | PR | DB | 414 | $50.3M | $121,503 | $0 | $772 |
| Brown-Forman Corporation Retirement Plan | Brown-Forman Corporation | KY | DB | 316 | $35.0M | $110,868 | — | $238 |
| Bacardi U.S.A., Inc. Pension Plan | Bacardi U.S.A., Inc. | FL | DB | 315 | $80.2M | $254,546 | $0 | $1,418 |
| Destileria Serralles, Inc. Puerto Rico Pension Plan | Destileria Serralles, Inc. | PR | DB | 294 | $17.3M | $58,814 | $7,265 | $335 |
| Destileria Serralles Inc. Retirement Plan | Destileria Serralles, Inc. | PR | DC | 248 | $11.8M | $47,397 | $936 | $189 |
| Proximo Distillers, LLC 401(k) Union Plan | Proximo Distillers, LLC | NJ | DC | 201 | $6.7M | $33,293 | $2,468 | $33.72 |
| Bacardi Corp. Defined Contributions Administrative Employees Plan As of October 1st, 2004 | Bacardi Corporation | PR | DC | 195 | $23.9M | $122,522 | $5,209 | $81.79 |
| Retirement Plan for Employees of Bacardi Bottling Corporation | Bacardi Bottling Corporation | FL | DB | 190 | $27.8M | $146,166 | $0 | $1,020 |
| Brown-Forman Corporation Pension Plan for Hourly Employees | Brown-Forman Corporation | KY | DB | 181 | $17.2M | $95,186 | — | $252 |
| Terrapin Beer Company, LLC 401(k) Plan | Terrapin Beer Company, LLC | GA | DC | 175 | $3.7M | $21,380 | $1,182 | $153 |
| Four Roses Distillery LLC Savings Plan | Four Roses Distillery LLC | KY | DC | 170 | $22.4M | $131,571 | $9,935 | $69.16 |
| Schenley Industries Employees' Retirement and Benefit Plan | Diageo North America, Inc. | NY | DB | 168 | $7.9M | $46,926 | — | — |
| CC1 Florida Employees Retirement Savings Plan | Florida Can Manufacturing, LLC | FL | DC | 167 | $2.3M | $13,623 | $89 | $94.12 |
| Stitzel-Weller Hourly Retirement Plan | Diageo North America, Inc. | NY | DB | 163 | $5.0M | $30,659 | — | — |
| Mgpi Processing, Inc. 401(k) & Profit Sharing - Atchison Union | Mgpi Processing, Inc. | KS | DC | 101 | $14.8M | $146,369 | $6,518 | $101 |
By plan size
By state
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in distilleries?
37 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 66 pension plans on the full form. Smaller plans file Form 5500-SF and are counted separately where shown.
What is the typical 401(k) balance in distilleries?
The median defined contribution plan reported $79,838 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $34,643 to $127,795); nationally it was $53,031. This is a plan-level average that includes former employees, not a typical person's balance.
What do employers contribute in distilleries?
The median defined contribution plan received $2,810 in employer contributions per active participant, against $2,174 nationally. Plans with no employer contribution are included at zero.
What are average 401(k) fees in distilleries?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $67.21 per participant and 0.07% of net assets (nationally $123 and 0.26%). Schedule C leaves out fund expense ratios and fees the employer pays, so it understates total cost.
Where does this come from?
Form 5500 annual reports in the EBSA research files, with filings received through 24 Aug 2026. Medians are computed by this site across plans with 100 or more participants.
Provenance
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Form 5500 research files, public domain, with filings received through 24 Aug 2026. Totals count every pension plan on the full form; medians and the plan list cover plans with 100 or more participants. See the methodology.