Gulf Coast beer biz swigs Ohio expansion

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Gold Coast Eagle Distributing, one of the largest Anheuser-Busch/InBev distributors in Florida, acquired Monroe, Ohio-based Dickerson Distributing Co.

Terms of the deal, announced in a statement released today, weren't disclosed. The transaction, expected to close in the first quarter of 2015, pending supplier approvals, will create a combined company with almost nine million cases of sales and 228 employees, according to the release. Dickerson Distributing's trade area is Warren, Butler and Preble counties, north of Cincinnati. Gold Coast Eagle, based out of a 170,000-square-foot facility in Lakewood Ranch, runs 40 route trucks per day. Both firms, the release states, carry Anheuser-Busch/InBev products, in addition to Constellation Beer Division products. Gold Coast Eagle had $97.4 million in sales in 2013, up 3.1% from $94.5 million in 2012.

“Dickerson Distributing Co. is a great organization with dedicated people and we are committed to continuing the company's strong business practices and building on the legacy founded by the Dickerson family,” Gold Coast Eagle President John Saputo says in the release. “We anticipate a smooth transition with our existing team members, the Dickerson team and our new customers and friends in southwestern Ohio.”

Gold Coast Eagle marketing and sales executive Devyn Dugger was named president of Dickerson Distributing. Saputo will become the CEO of Gold Coast Eagle Distributing and the new entity, the release adds. Saputo founded Gold Coast Eagle in 1996. The Saputo family owned and managed beer distribution companies in Michigan, New York and North Carolina prior to Gold Coast in the Sarasota-Bradenton market.