Griffin Beverage Company
1901 Dam Road
West Branch, MI 48661
Phone: (989)345-0540
Fax: (989)345-2040
Owners
Bob & Nancy Griffin
CEO
webmaster@griffinbev.com
Bob Griffin Jr.
General Manager
bob@griffinbev.com
Key Employees
Pete Matuzak
Location Manager, Marquette
pete@griffinbev.com
Mike Kamyszek
Location Manager, St. Ignace
mike@griffinbev.com
Dan Neubecker
Sales Manager, West Branch
dan@griffinbev.com
Pat Thompson
Sales Manager, West Branch
pat@griffinbev.com
Kiel Hooten
Craft Brand Manager
kiel@griffinbev.com
Josh Mongait
Sales Manager, Marquette
josh@griffinbev.com
Total number of employees: 250
Number of merchandisers: 30
Number of sales reps: 52
Number of sales supervisors: 13
About Us
Griffin Beverage Company was started in 1967 when Bob Griffin Sr. and Nancy Griffin entered into a partnership with Richard Templeton. At this time, Bob ran the West Branch operation and Richard ran the Traverse City bottling operation. The combined company produced and sold various soft drinks, from Crush to Coca-Cola. The company also distributed many different beer and wine brands in the West Branch area, including Anheuser-Busch and Stroh’s brands. In the following years, several other companies were acquired and the market coverage area stretched from the West Branch area into the Upper Peninsula to Marquette.
Community Involvement
Major Company donations or charitable organizations supported:
Ogemaw Heights Sports
American Red Cross
Ogemaw County Humane Society
Northeast Community Foundation
Ogemaw Nature Park
Bikers 4 Kids
Counties Served
Gladwin
Mackinac
Marquette
Ogemaw
Arenac
Iosco
Total Market population: 175, 000
Current Suppliers (Beer Only)
National: Anheuser-Busch, North American Brewing, Pabst, Heineken, Diageo, Molson, Goose Island, New Belgium
Regional: Deschutes, Great Lakes, Cigar City, Breckenridge, Golden Road, Kona
Michigan: Bell’s, Founders, Blackrocks, Keweenaw, Cheboygan, New Holland, Dark Horse, Arcadia, Saugatuck, Jolly Pumpkin, North Peak, Rochester Mills, Perrin, Terra Firma
Competitive Advantage
Highly-trained and motivated sales staff
Unique intellectual properties that enhance inventory management and customer service
Customer service that puts the customers’ needs first
In-house mechanics and paint shop allow low cost operations, quick image upgrades
OTR semi fleet in which we haul 80% of all our product. Allows for flexibility and low cost
Live inventory between locations allows quicker turns and less out of stocks
Local Market Dynamics
Market varies from extreme blue collar in the West Branch area, to extreme tourist/summer market in St. Ignace, to college town, white collar in Marquette. All areas are tourist areas.
Most are fairly rural, with population centers 30-40 miles apart.
Download a printable PDF of this information
Retail Account Information
Off-Premise Accounts: 394
On-Premise Accounts: 326
Chain Accounts Serviced
Off-Premise + number of locations:
Wal-Mart (3)
Meijer (1)
Family Fare (5)
RiteAid (6)
Forward (12)
Sunrise (6)
Festival & Event Accounts
Major Venues/Special Events/Festivals serviced within the market:
Mackinac Island, with daily deliveries
Upper Peninsula Brewers Guild Fall Festival
Total Number of Events/Festivals held within market: 34
Total Number of Events/Festivals serviced by company: 26
Current Total Customer Service Score: 92%
Delivery Service Score: 94%
Sales Service Score: 95%