Permit Name
The permit name is the official business name associated with a TTB federal permit, including both the operating name (DBA or trade name) and the owner name (legal entity), used to identify the authorized party on labels and regulatory documents.
In Plain English
The permit name is the official name on a company's federal alcohol permit. It usually has two parts: the operating name (how the business presents itself to the public) and the owner name (the legal entity that actually holds the permit). For example, a permit might show the operating name "Bluegrass Bourbon Distillery" with the owner name "XYZ Spirits Holdings LLC." These names must match what appears on the product labels in the "distilled by" or "bottled by" statements. Because companies often use different names on their permits versus their marketing materials, matching COLA filings to the correct company can be complex, which is why BevAlc Intelligence uses a company normalization system with aliases.
Technical Detail
Permit names are captured during the application process and must accurately reflect the legal entity and trade name authorized to operate. Changes to the operating name or owner name require notification to the TTB and may require permit amendments. In the public permits data, both the operating_name and owner_name fields are published for non-brewery permits. The permit name is referenced in COLA applications through the permit number field, and the company name on the COLA must match the permit name. BevAlc Intelligence handles the many-to-one relationship between permit names and companies through the company_aliases table, which maps variant names (including comma-separated DBA names like "Moonshine Depot, RMRH Enterprises") to a canonical company record.
Why It Matters
Permit names are the official identity of alcohol businesses and the starting point for company identification. However, the same company may appear under different names across different permits, COLA filings, and marketing materials. Understanding the relationship between permit names and actual companies is essential for accurate market intelligence. BevAlc Intelligence has normalized over 31,000 companies from raw TTB permit and COLA names, helping users see through name variations to the actual company behind the filings.
Related Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a company operate under a different name than its permit name?
Yes. Companies commonly use trade names or DBAs that differ from their legal entity name. The permit must reflect both the legal entity (owner name) and any operating names. Label references must use a name that matches the permit records.
What happens if a company changes its name?
Name changes require notification to the TTB and may require a permit amendment. The company must also file new COLAs for any products where the label shows the old name, since the label must match the current permit information.
Why does a company appear under different names in different filings?
Companies may use different legal entities for different operations, may have changed names over time, or may use both a trade name and a legal entity name. BevAlc Intelligence handles this through company normalization, linking all name variants to a single canonical company record.