H. Cox and Son, Inc.
1402 Sawyer Road
Traverse City, MI 49685
Phone: (231)943-4730
Fax: (231)943-9826
Owners
Mark Ribel
President
mcribel@hcoxandson.com
Ryan Ribel
Vice President
rribel@hcoxandson.com
Key Employees
Mike Linck
Craft Sales Manager
mlinck@hcoxandson.com
Jeremy Edenburn
Anheuser-Busch Sales Manager
jedenburn@hcoxandson.com
Number of merchandisers: 10
Number of sales reps: 14
Number of sales supervisors: 7
About Us
Herman C. Cox founded H. Cox & Son, Inc. in 1933, distributing beer throughout 7 counties in Northern Michigan out of a small garage in Traverse City, MI. In 1934, Clinton H. Cox (Herman’s son) joined the family business and a new warehouse was also built on 8th St. to accommodate the expanding business. The two worked closely until Herman’s death in 1947. It was not until 1953 when Clinton’s two sons, Chuck E. Cox and John C. Cox joined the business. In 1960, Clinton H. Cox passed away, leaving Chuck and John to continue the family business. In 1973, H. Cox and Son, Inc. moved locations to the south end of town, where it still stands today. In 1981, John C. Cox passed away and shortly after, Mark L. Ribel (Chuck Cox’s son-in-law) joined the company to assist Chuck in growing the business. In 1994, H. Cox & Son, Inc. acquired Ameel Distributing Co., a Traverse City beer and wine company, diversifying the product line to include a number of domestic beers, microbrews, as well as an extensive line of fine wines and non-alcoholic beverages that include sodas, waters, and juices. 1995 saw the death of Chuck E. Cox, the company’s principal shareholder. With the passing of Chuck, Mark L. Ribel became the sole shareholder of H. Cox & Son, Inc. In 1998, Mark’s son, Mark C. Ribel, joined H. Cox & Son, Inc. as the 5th generation to operate the family business. In 2001, Mark L. Ribel’s second son, Ryan Ribel, joined the company as well.
Community Involvement
Major Company donations or charitable organizations supported:
Munson Hospital
Northwest Michigan College
Traverse City YMCA
Child and Family Services
Counties Served
Kalkaska
Wexford
Missaukee
Grand Traverse
Leelanau
Benzie
Antrim
Total Market population: 228,000
Current Suppliers (Beer Only)
National: Anheuser- Busch, Constellation Brands, MolsonCoors (legacy), Pabst
Regional: Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, Deschutes, CANarchy, Rhinegeist
Michigan: Bell's, North Peak, New Holland, Right Brain, Terra Firma, Stormcloud, Blake's
Competitive Advantage
LOCAL. Only Local wholesaler in the 7 counties we service
Active owners who live in Traverse City
We invest back into our community unlike other wholesalers
Ability to drill down to store level and maximize PFP dollars to drive sales
Local Market Dynamics
Tourist Area: 35% of business done in June, July and August
Many bodies of water in our 7 Counties
Financially diverse area: 4 white collar counties and 3 blue collar counties
Grand Traverse area known for its many wineries and local breweries
Download a printable PDF of this information
Retail Account Information
Off-Premise Accounts: 281
On-Premise Accounts: 301
Chain Accounts Serviced
Off-Premise locations:
Costco
Sam's Club
Holiday Station
True North
Meijer
Wal-Mart
Speedway
Dollar General
CVS
GPM
Target
Seven Eleven
Wesco
Blarney Castle
Rite Aid
Family Fare
Walgreens
Festival & Event Accounts
Major Venues/Special Events/Festivals serviced within the market:
Traverse City National Cherry Festival
Traverse City Bayshore Marathon
Iceman Cometh Challenge
Traverse City Pit Spitters
Mud, Sweat and Beers
Mancelona Bass Festival
Interlochen Arts Academy Concert Series