H. Cox & Son putting in extra hours, giving back to local community during holiday season

November 20, 2023

Northern Michigan beer distributor helps ensure shelves are stocked, tap handles flowing during busy holiday season


TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – H. Cox & Son Inc. employees are putting in extra hours to help ensure retailers are well-stocked ahead of the busy holiday season. Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day is a busy time for the beer distributor, with sales spiking 50% the weeks before each holiday and skyrocketing business at local bars and supermarkets leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

“We’re proud to partner with suppliers across Michigan and beyond to help ensure consumers have an unmatched selection of beer to enjoy this holiday season,” said Mark Ribel, president of H. Cox & Son Inc. “It’s a special experience to live and work in Traverse City, where so many people return to spend the holidays with their loved ones this time of year. From drivers and warehouse employees to leadership, everyone at H. Cox & Son takes great pride in how we operate as a team to promote growth, choices, and competition as we serve our customers and community during the holidays and every day.”

 

Michigan’s independent, family-owned beer distributors employ nearly 5,000 people and have an economic impact of nearly $5 million in local communities statewide. H. Cox & Son exemplifies the industry’s commitment to improving the communities where employees and leadership live and work through their involvement and sponsorship of numerous organizations and local events, including Munson Hospital Cancer Center, Munson Hospital Stroke Initiative, Northwestern Michigan College Foundation, and Traverse City YMCA, along with many local high school extracurricular activities.


“At H. Cox & Son, we are passionate about giving back to our community and gladly embrace any opportunity to support other local businesses and charitable organizations,” Ribel said. “We are very fortunate to be part of a fifth-generation family business. With H. Cox & Son being part of the Traverse City community since 1933, many generations of bars, restaurants, and stores have supported and helped us grow. Giving back to our local community is our way of saying, ‘Thank you.’ We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. Cheers to a great 2024!”

 

Tracing its company roots back 90 years, H. Cox & Son has a rich history in the Traverse City community. The beer distributor has worked hard to diversify its inventory in a dynamic tourist area market, with 35% of business done in the summer months. If you buy an Anheuser-Busch product within a 60-mile radius of Traverse City, it comes through H. Cox & Son’s warehouse, along with several non-alcoholic beverages. H. Cox & Son employs 60 people and services seven counties in northwest Michigan.



Detroit News: Celebrating Michigan’s Family-Owned Beer and Wine Distributors

By Rebecca Stow • June 23, 2026
On June 23, National Family-Owned and Operated Businesses Day offers an opportunity to recognize the local companies that form the backbone of Michigan’s economy. Among them are the state’s beer and wine distributors—independent, family-owned businesses that have been serving their communities for decades. These are multigenerational operations rooted in Michigan communities, where leadership is often passed from one generation to the next. Their longevity reflects not only business success, but a deep commitment to the people and places they serve. When I began my work with the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association two decades ago, the industry looked very different. Today, Michigan consumers enjoy an unprecedented variety of choices, supported by advanced logistics, compliance systems, and strong retail partnerships. That evolution has been driven in large part by family-owned distributors who continue to invest in their people, infrastructure and communities. Their local ownership gives them a unique understanding of the retailers and consumers they serve. It also means decisions are made with a long-term perspective—focused not just on growth, but on sustainability and community impact. Thoughtful alcohol policy helps ensure a fair and competitive marketplace, protects public health and safety, and allows businesses of all sizes to thrive. By maintaining strong relationships with lawmakers and industry partners, Michigan’s beer and wine distributors have helped modernize laws while preserving the structure and accountability of the proven three-tier system. As we recognize family-owned businesses across the state this June, it is worth celebrating the role Michigan’s beer and wine distributors have played for decades and will continue to play in the years ahead. Their strength lies not only in their ability to adapt, but in the values that have guided them from the beginning: local ownership, strong relationships, and a commitment to doing business the right way. Spencer Nevins is president of the Michigan Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association in Lansing.

Mid-Michigan beer distributor celebrates 65 years in business, three generations of family leadership

By Rebecca Stow • May 4, 2026
OWOSSO, Mich. – Main Beverage Company marks 65 years in business this year, celebrating three generations of family leadership and a legacy rooted in mid-Michigan.

Ypsilanti beer distributor partners on limited-edition release for Ann Arbor Summer Festival

By Rebecca Stow • April 14, 2026
YPSILANTI, Mich. – Local, family-owned beer distributor O&W Inc. in Ypsilanti is celebrating its collaboration with Michigan-based Griffin Claw Brewing Company to develop a limited-edition Session IPA for the upcoming Ann Arbor Summer Festival (A2SF).