August, 2004
Century of Experience
Hattiesburg American
After 100 years, a small Hattiesburg-based
food company is today among the industry's giants.
Begun in 1904 as the Fain Grocery Co., it was known for decades
as the Merchants Company. Now known as Merchants Foodservice, the
privately held company is the 19th largest U.S. food service company
out of roughly 2,500 competitors with annual sales expected by company
officials to top $200 million this year - its best year ever.
A celebration to mark its centennial year will be held Sept. 12
at the Hattiesburg Lake Terrace Convention Center, officials announced
Friday.
Present and past employees, their families and customers are being
invited to celebrate the company's century of operation.
Donald B. Suber, president and chief executive officer, expects
turnout to top more than 1,000 people, but that number could likely
be surpassed.
"We're expecting somewhere around a 1,000 people just from
the Hattiesburg area," Suber said.
Suber, 69, has been with the company for 49 years, and said the
company turned a corner for itself in 1982 when Merchants changed
its goal as a wholesale grocer to a food service distributor, selling
off its manufacturing and processing interests and consolidating
its distribution centers. Its corporate offices are located in Hattiesburg.
The company now serves eight states out of its massive centers
in Clanton, Ala., and Jackson, focusing on food sales to institutions,
independent restaurants and the military.
The company has military contracts with all 15 bases in Mississippi
and Louisiana, totaling $17 million to $18 million in sales annually.
Despite its growth, Andy Mercier, Merchants executive vice president,
maintains the company hasn't forgotten its roots as a small-town
enterprise.
"We think our success really is being a small company and
treating people like family," Mercier said. "We like to
think we come to market in a very high ethical and high integrity
fashion and our customers appreciate that."
Pinning down how many 100-year-old Mississippi companies there
are proved elusive.
David Blount, spokesman for the Mississippi Secretary of State's
office, said he had no idea how many there might be in Mississippi.
Yet pinning down memories of the company was easy for Merchants
retiree James Triggs Sr., 80. He worked at the company for 36 years
and his son James Triggs Jr. has been there for 20 years.
Working at Merchants was like working with a family, James Triggs
Sr. said.
"I thought they were a real good company for the employees,"
he said, citing the company's insurance and benefits. "They
were just good people to work for."
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