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Corporate Announcement

On December 31, 201, Bernie Little Distributing, LLC sold the distribution rights for all of its brands in north central Florida to Great Bay Distributors, with locations in both Largo and Holiday, and to Tri-Eagle Sales, with locations in both Tallahassee and Ocala.

The following links are being provided for Tri-Eagle Sales and Great Bay Distributors:

  • www.trieaglesales.com – Tri Eagle Sales – Now servicing Marion, Dixie, Levy, Sumter and a portion of Putnam and Lake Counties.
  • www.greatbaybud.com – Great Bay Distributors, Inc. – Now servicing Citrus county.

To contact Bernie Little Distributing, LLC after January 1, 2013, the following contact information has been provided:

  • Bernie Little Distributing, LLC., BLD Logistics, LLC and Beverage Fleet Leasing, LLC
  • Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5279, Ocala, Florida  34478-5279
  • Physical Address: 1920 SW 12th Ave, Ocala, FL 34471
  • Phone - (352) 401-0993 Ext. 235
  • Email - BLL@BernieLittle.com

This transaction does not affect the Bernie Little Distributors operations in Lakeland and Sebring.

 

Corporate History

The Bernie Little family's association with Anheuser-Busch began in 1963 with the sponsorship of the Miss Budweiser hydroplane.  This association and the friendship of August Busch, III allowed Bernie Little, Sr. in 1972 to purchase the Anheuser-Busch distribution rights for a 3 county area of central Florida and form Bernie Little Distributors based in Lakeland Florida. 
 
In 1973, Bernie Little, Jr. joined his father in the business and after a decade of working through the ranks became the president of the company in 1983. In that leadership role, Bernie Jr. then took the company on a major expansion program. 
 In 1984, the company purchased the Anheuser-Busch distribution rights for an additional 5 county area in south central Florida with a facility in Belle Glade.  In 1985, the company opened a new distribution center in Sebring Florida to support the rapidly expanding sales.

By 1995, Bernie Little Distributors was the most highly awarded wholesaler in the entire Anheuser-Busch system.

In 1997, Bernie Jr. sold his interest in Bernie Little Distributors back to his father and used the proceeds to acquire the Anheuser-Busch distribution rights for a 6 county region of north central Florida.  A new distribution center was built in Ocala Florida.

Over the next 15 years, the Ocala based Bernie Little Distributing became the fastest growing Anheuser-Busch distributor in the country for 10 of those 15 years and achieved a market share of 70%.  The organization accomplished this success by delivering superior service, while providing its customers with the finest malt beverages, wines, spirits and non-alcoholic products in the market.

At the end of 2012, Bernie Little, Jr. chose to sell the business in order to pursue other investment activities.  At the time of the sale, the Bernie Little organization was the largest Anheuser-Busch wholesaler in Florida and thus one of the largest in the country.

Thank you.