Gulf Distributing Co. is planning to add more than 60 employees over the next 12 months. In addition, it is undergoing a restructuring of its company-wide senior leadership team.
Founded in 1973 in Mobile by Freida Maisel, Gulf Distributing is a family-owned and operated beer and beverage wholesaler. The company moved from its Moffett Road location into the former Press-Register building in downtown Mobile in January 2023.
Among those being promoted is Louis Maisel as chief operating officer and Jimmy Marston to chief commercial officer. Others elevated to divisional senior vice president are Glenn Morris, Scott Van Matre and Domenic Olson.
Maisel, in his new role, will lead Gulf’s strategic operations, facility and fleet management, supply chain management and technology departments. A graduate of Tulane University, Maisel worked in the beverage distribution industry for Keg 1 Central Texas LLC and Capitol Wright Distributing before returning to Gulf in 2016. He has participated in the company’s brand growth, had a role in its mergers and acquisitions, managing its purchase and construction of new warehouses and maintained oversight of all sales and operations of the company as an owner and vice president. In his new role as COO, he will lead Gulf’s strategic operations, facility and fleet management, supply chain management and technology department.
Marston will become the company’s first non-family board member, leading the Gulf’s sales and marketing organization company-wide. Marston, who has been with Gulf for 39 years, will continue to oversee all aspects of retail customer service and will mentor and train all Gulf’s employees at all levels. During his tenure, he has worked in nearly every department. He most recently served as senior sales manager.
Olson is a graduate of the University of South Alabama and has been in the beverage industry for 23 years, most recently serving as Gulf’s managing director overseeing all operations in Mobile and the Florida panhandle territories. In his new role as senior vice president, he will oversee the Southern Division.
Matre is a graduate of Louisiana State University and began his early career with Gulf before taking positions at Miller Brewing Co. and Baton Rouge Beverage Co. He returned to Gulf in 2017 to run the company’s newly purchased Birmingham territory. He most recently served as managing director-general manager, overseeing the company’s Birmingham and Huntsville-based territories, which he will continue in his role as SVP of the Northern Division.
Morris began his career at Montgomery-based Allstate Beverage Co. in 1986. When Gulf acquired Allstate in 2009, Morris was an area supervisor. For the last 12 years, he has been instrumental in leading the company through a period of sustained volume growth. His leadership will continue as SVP of the company’s Central Division.
Gulf now operates five warehouse facilities in every major metropolitan area in Alabama and northwest Florida, serving several thousands of retailers in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi. Among their suppliers are well known brands including MolsonCoors Beverage Co., Costellation Brands, Red Bull North America, Heineken USA, Old Majestic, New Belgium Brewing Co., Asahi and others. Â Â Â
