Beer Seller Raises Glass to 75 Years
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndiana's second-largest beer wholesaler is celebrating 75 years of selling “one of life's simple pleasures.” Indiana Beverage Co. has been owned by four generations of the Leetz family since it launched in 1939. President Jon Leetz says the emergence of craft beer has helped fuel continued growth over the last several years. He says the Valparaiso-based company distributes beer from 20 states and 24 countries, including products from nine breweries in Indiana. Indiana Beverage has approximately 260 employees and sells more than 8 million cases of beer per year. Jon Leetz and Chairman Bruce Leetz discussed the company's milestone and growth on Inside INdiana Business Television. Indiana Beverage began as Valpo Beverages on October 27, 1939.
October 13, 2014
News Release
Valparaiso, Ind. — Indiana Beverage Chairman, Bruce Leetz, today announced that this year Indiana Beverage celebrates 75 years in business. Indiana Beverage is a beverage distributor who has been delivering the difference since 1939. Located in Porter County Indiana with approximately 260 employees, Indiana Beverage provides quality service to its customers by promoting the responsible use of its products.
“For over 75 years, Indiana Beverage has been dedicated to its core values of: passion, respect, integrity, commitment, and excelling. These values and the company’s success are shared by every member of Team Indiana Beverage.” Leetz said.
“MillerCoors is happy to toast Indiana Beverage on their 75 year anniversary. They’ve been distributing Miller High Life since 1939 and we chose them to represent the Coors brands when we came into Indiana in 1991. The team’s passion for quality and investment in their people and brands are just a couple of reasons why they’ve been successful for so many years.” -Peter H. Coors, Chairman MillerCoors and Chairman of the Board, Molson Coors Brewing Company.
Indiana Beverage began as Valpo Beverages on October 27, 1939. Over the years, four generations of the Leetz family have owned and operated the company and the company expanded beyond Valparaiso into other Northern Indiana counties. The company’s current portfolio contains over 920 high quality brands.
Over the years, the company won many awards for excellence including: Pete Coors Quality Award (1998); Miller Brewing Company High Life Achievement Award (‘01-‘03, ’05-‘08); Governor O’Bannon Half Century Award; Coors Distributor Excellence Award for the State of Indiana (‘03); Coors President’s Award (’05-‘08); Coors Founder’s Award (‘05); Miller Brewing President’s Award (‘07), New Belgium Distributor of the Year (‘12), New Holland Brewing Brand Champion (’13, ‘14), and Constellation Brands Modelo Wholesaler of the Year for Indiana (‘13). These awards are all a result of Team Indiana Beverage’s commitment to excellence in quality and service.
Indiana Beverage and its employees support their communities by participating in a number of community efforts. A few of the many organizations they assist include: United Way of Porter County, for which they were named Company of the Year in 2014, the Porter County Community Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Folds of Honor, Boys and Girls Clubs of Porter County and Northwest Indiana, the Northwest Indiana Forum, Opportunity Enterprises, Fraternal Order of Police, Family & Youth Services Bureau, American Heart Association, Valpo Parks, Valparaiso YMCA, Junior Achievement and others. Serving community is a part of its mission and a core value at Indiana Beverage.
Indiana Beverage also promotes the responsible use of its products and is committed to educating legal drinking age consumers about the consequences of abuse of alcohol and to helping to prevent underage drinking. Each holiday, Indiana Beverage publishes a responsibility message reminding everyone to designate a driver and to drink responsibly. The company also distributes “We ID” merchandise to accounts, Drivers’ License booklets, and “Let’s Talk” booklets. At the Valparaiso Popcorn Festival, Indiana Beverage partnered with MillerCoors to offer a “free ride” home program. Indiana Beverage also sponsors designated driver booths at minor league baseball parks. Indiana Beverage supported the Lifeline Law education campaign. The Lifeline Law provides legal protection to minors under the influence of alcohol who call to report a medical emergency or crime and allows first responders to administer emergency treatment.
Indiana Beverage is proud to celebrate its 75th year of business in Indiana and looks forward to the future. “The success of Indiana Beverage is shared by every member of our team, our suppliers, our customers and our consumers. The challenges and opportunities of the future drive us to continually set higher standards and to strive to make ourselves and our company better each day.” – Jon Leetz, President Indiana Beverage.
For more information about Indiana Beverage visit www.indianabev.com.
Source: Indiana Beverage Co.