Page 39 - South Mississippi Living - March, 2019

In February
1934, Salvador
J. Bertucci, operating
out of Gulfport as S.J. Bertucci Company, founded what is now known as F.E.B. Distributing Company, Inc. The company was appointed the distributor for the Mississippi Gulf Coast for JAX beer.
In 1946, the business became a family affair when Salvador’s son, Frank, joined the company, and the name changed to F.E.B. Distributing Company. A year after a re destroyed the warehouse in July 1954, a new warehouse with of ces opened.
the president. We’re the fourth generation and dad and Uncle Paul represent the third generation. I started working here when I was young. I would sweep out the warehouse on the weekend and started helping with deliveries. When we were in college, we started learning the sales aspect.”
Frank Bertucci recalls a time when the first three generations worked together at the downtown Gulfport facility. “I came on full time in 1979, but
my first job was mopping the floors at the
business after school,” he said. “I clearly
remember working with grandfather and
father, along with my younger brother, Paul.
My grandfather lived to the ripe old age of
98 and he didn’t pass away until 1990. There
was a long period of time that we had three
generations working in the business.”
Although the beer distributing business has evolved over the years and F.E.B. also carries low alcohol wine and hard seltzers, Ryland Bertucci said the ‘craft beer ’ boom has created an entirely different market for beer. “The way the beer business has evolved, it was about the bigger brands like Miller and Coors. But now with craft beers, which
used to be called ‘microwbrews,’ there’s not as much brand loyalty, especially
with millennials. We carry several local and regionally-brewed beers including Abita, Lazy Magnolia, Mississippi Brewing Company and Biloxi Brewing Company.”
Regardless of the product, the Bertuccis agree that their longevity and success begins with a commitment of excellence to their customers and their employees. “From the first generation, there’s been a work ethic instilled and a commitment to not only the family members, but also to the employees of the company, because it’s not about us, but the 100 people who depend on us for their livelihood.”
Matthew Hessell and Frank, Jeff, Paul and Ryland Bertucci.
FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net March 2019 • SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living 39
Beers
for Years