Traverse City beer distributor proud to celebrate 90 years in business, fifth-generation ownership

January 24, 2023

TRAVERSE CITY, Michigan – Employees at Traverse City-based H. Cox & Son celebrate 90 years in business this year – a true testament to the Michigan beer distributor’s deep roots in the communities it serves.


“My brother Mark and I are proud to be fifth-generation owners after growing up in the business from our early teenage years,” said Ryan Ribel, vice president of H. Cox & Son. “Our great-great-grandfather, Herman Cox, launched this company on Eighth Street in Traverse City after the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, distributing beer to seven counties in Northern Michigan out of a small garage. We take great pride in our modest beginnings and time-honored values of having a superior company culture and investing back into our community.”


As a local, family-owned business, H. Cox & Son is uniquely positioned to respond to the needs of its community with both owners living and working in Traverse City. They actively prioritize partnering with local non-profits and events and helping other small businesses, like craft brewers and retailers, compete, grow, and thrive on a level playing field.



“We are more than just a beer distributorship,” said Mark Ribel, president of H. Cox & Son. “It’s rewarding to be a part of helping to promote growth, choices, and competition by working with small craft brewers to help them succeed today and in the future. It makes us better, too, as we work with and serve the people of Traverse City. Their authenticity fosters a drive within our business to stay connected and make our community a better place.”


H. Cox & Son has worked hard over the years to diversify their 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 65 people and services seven counties in northwest Michigan.

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).

Detroit News: Rooted in Community, Driven to Lead: Women in Michigan’s Beer and Wine Distribution Industry

By Rebecca Stow • March 17, 2026
Across Michigan’s beer and wine distribution industry, women are helping shape the future of our businesses and the communities we serve. As president and CEO of John P. O’Sullivan Distributing in Grand Blanc Township and the third woman to chair the Michigan Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association (MB&WWA) Board of Directors, I’m proud to be part of a growing group of women leading with purpose and perspective. This year is especially meaningful for our company as we celebrate 50 years in business. Reaching that milestone is a reminder that strong local businesses are built over time through dedication, adaptability and the people who make long-term success possible—including the growing number of women shaping the future of the industry. Our work as beer and wine distributors is about far more than logistics. It’s about building resilient businesses that support jobs, give back locally and help maintain a fair and competitive marketplace. From sales and operations to finance, marketing and delivery, women are making meaningful contributions at every level of our industry. Distributors are proud to be local businesses with deep roots. We live and work in the communities we serve, and we embrace opportunities to give back—whether supporting neighborhood events, partnering with charitable organizations or helping local retailers succeed. That spirit of service is integral to our businesses and something we strive to carry forward. Beer and wine distributors also play a critical role in Michigan’s three-tier system, moving products safely and efficiently from supplier to shelf. This system supports competition and gives consumers access to an extraordinary variety of high-quality choices, from Michigan-made craft beverages to well-known national brands. As we celebrate Women’s History Month in March, I’m honored to recognize the many women who help drive Michigan’s beer and wine distribution industry forward. The continued success of this industry reflects the collaboration and determination of the people behind it—and women are playing an essential role in shaping what comes next. Joanie O’Sullivan-Butler is president and CEO of John P. O’Sullivan Distributing Inc. in Grand Blanc Township. She is also chair of the MB&WWA Board of Directors and sits on the MB&WWA Women’s Advocacy Committee.