J. F. Fick, Inc. - Our Corporate History

The company moved into this Fuller Heights Road location in 1937.

J.F. Fick, Inc. began its proud heritage in the Virginia beverage business in a partnership with Anheuser-Busch Inc. nearly 75 years ago. The company commenced business on March 6, 1936 with a small one—car garage, which served as the warehouse, behind Oertly’s Grocery in Triangle, Virginia. Since 1936, the Fick family has continued the proud tradition of sewing the finest, freshest beer and beverage products to local retailers and restaurants.

Our territory covers 1,762 greater square miles with a population of over 750,000 people. The territory includes the counties of Prince William, Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George and Caroline counties, as well as the independent cities of Manassas, Manassas Park and Fredericksburg.

With the aide of a helper and an old pulpwood truck, the founder, Jack F. Fick, Sr. began delivering Budweiser from the warehouse on Old Triangle Road. In the beginning beer was trucked from the Anheuser—Busch distribution center located in Washington, DC. Within a year, increasing sales of the Budweiser brand required a larger warehouse. The new location was on Fuller Heights Road in Triangle, VA next to the Fick family farm adjoining Quantico Marine Corp Base. Beginning in 1939 beer was shipped by refrigerated (dry ice) rail cars from breweries located in Newark, NJ and St. Louis, MO. The rail cars were unloaded by hand at a rail spur in Quantico, VA and then trucked to the warehouse less than two miles away. The war years of 1941 to 1945 were unique with increased troop levels at Fort AP Hill in Caroline County, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), (precursor to the CIA) Training Base located in Prince William Forest National Park and Quantico Marine Corp Base. Additionally, the rationing of gas and tires created distribution issues for the small one truck operation. Military sales at that time accounted for 60% of the draught beer market and nearly 50% of the package market. The end of the 1940’s brought increased sales with population increases and need for a second delivery truck.

Jack F. Fick, Jr., a decorated and wounded WWII Marine Corp veteran of the Pacific Campaign and graduate of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), joined the family business in 1949 after an extended recovery period from injuries suffered during the war. During his recovery he attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and returned to teach 7t grade at Dumfries Elementary School. 1949 also saw the company build its first warehouse designed for the distribution of beer. This larger cinder block building was also located on Fuller Heights Road in Triangle, VA. Sales continued to grow through the Korean War years with increased troop levels at the two military bases. With a truce ending the Korean War, a change sales trends occurred with the draw down of troops at Quantico Marine Corp Base and Fort AP Hill and the very beginning of the population boom in Prince William County area. No longer was the military J.F. Fick, lnc.’s largest customer base. Jack Fick, Jr. became sole owner and president of the company in 1958. The 1960's brought thousands of new customers into the area and in 1969 J.F. Fick, lnc. was moving to a new larger warehouse.

J. F. Fick's 4th home was this metal building.

The new warehouse was located in the Town of Quantico on a rail siding and was short lived. Steady sales growth and the 1971 opening of an Anheuser—Bush Brewery in Williamsburg, VA required that the company again start the process of developing a new and larger distribution center.

The corporation's 5th home was this modern day warehouse facility built in 1973.

With inadequate industrial zoning in Southern Prince William County and no longer needing the use of a rail spur, J.F. Fick, Inc. moved south to Stafford County. The new distribution center was located in Midway on US Route 1 on a 9.5-acre tract. Opened in 1973, the new 15,000 square foot block and metal building also included offices for sales, administration and warehouse. The old warehouse in Quantico was dismantled and erected on the site as a new fleet maintenance facility.

In December 1975 after obtaining a business management degree from the National Business College in Roanoke, VA, the youngest son of Jack and Patricia Fick, Magruder J. Fick joined the family business as the first third generation family member.

The first 40 years saw J.F. Fick, Inc. grow from 2 employees with 1 truck to 38 people and a fleet of 25 vehicles. The late 1970’s brought the change from delivering in small straight box trucks to route tractors with side loading trailers. Refrigerated trucks delivered draught beer and the first customized party trailer was built. Computerized route sales became the norm with the addition of Norand route computers. ln 1981 J.F. Fick, Inc. began a dedicated brewery fleet, delivering nearly 90% of all in—bound loads from the brewery.

On Tuesday, December 14, 1982, J.F. Fick, Inc. reached a milestone with sale of 1 million cases in 1 year. This achievement, along with other business practices, moved J.F. Fick, Inc. to become the benchmark for beer wholesalers in Virginia. Continued sales increases created the need for expansion and 1984 saw the addition of 12,000 square feet of new warehouse space. ln addition, a new 4,000 square foot draught cooler was constructed, capable of handling nearly 3,000 kegs. The expansion as brought a new conference and training center along with a new sales team addition. Additionally, J.F. Fick, Inc. was now capable of warehousing its entire portfolio in a controlled refrigerated environment.

As tremendous sales increases continued throughout the 1980’s, J.F. Fick, Inc. earned Anheuser-Bush's coveted "WhoIesaler of the Year" award in 1985. This achievement was followed up by "back to back" "Wholesaler of the Year" awards in 1987 and 1988.

In late 1987, Jack and Patricia’s eldest son, John F. Fick, III joined the company as President after selling his successful pharmacy business in Williamsburg, VA. John, like his father is a graduate of Virginia Military Institute. John also continued his education by attending the Medical College of Virginia and graduated with an advanced degree in Pharmacology.

In early 1988, the last of Jack and Patricia’s children join the company. Nancy Campbell, an office manager for a prestigious law firm in Washington, DC, came aboard as Vice—President. Sales continued to grow and 1988 saw the need for more warehouse space and the company began looking in Fredericksburg, VA J.F. Fick's current headquarters constructed in 1988 and occupied in November, 1989.

J.F. Fick's current headquarters constructed in 1988 and occupied in November, 1989.

for its next distribution center. A new 35,000 square foot corporate distribution center was completed, leaving the Stafford, VA location as a satellite location. In 1991 Tammy Mosco, Nancy’s daughter joined the company after completing her education at George Mason University. Tammy, a fourth generation family member is presently the company’s General Manager.

1992 saw the bottom drop out of the beer business with the 1991 doubling of the Federal and State Beer Excise tax. The 1990’s proved difficult for all beer wholesalers with slowing sales and decreased margins. With shrinking sales, the satellite location in Stafford, VA was closed after a nearly 20,000 square foot expansion at the Fredericksburg location was completed. A new fleet facility was also constructed at that time.

John Fick's son Jeffery, a recent graduate of George Mason University, joined the company in 1999. He is presently the high—end / new brand coordinator. 1999 was the turning point as the beer industry shook off the effects of the excise tax increase with modest sales increases.

In 2001 J.F. Fick, Inc. reached another milestone with sales of 2 million cases in a year, quite an achievement, doubling sales in less than 20 years in a defined territory as an exclusive A-B wholesaler.

Norah Pence, a graduate of Mary-Baldwin College joined J.F. Fick, Inc. in 2004, She is the daughter of John & Sharon Fick. After graduating with a degree in Education and Drama, Norah taught elementary school in the City of Fredericksburg and drama at Massaponax High School in Spotsylvania County. She is presently a Program Manager for the company.

The 21S* century has seen continued modest growth and a broad diversification of the portfolio. J.F. Fick, Inc., began distributing craft beer in the early 2000’s with the addition of the Redhook brands from Seattle, WA, an Anheuser-Bush alliance that has seen the addition of the Widmer Brother brands from Portland, OR and the Kona beers from Hawaii.

J.F. Fick, Inc. began selling non—aIcohoI brands in 2006 beginning with the Monster Energy products. Icelandic water soon followed.

2008 brought numerous changes with the addition of non—Anheuser—Busch brands. We felt the need to expand our portfolio with local craft beer partnerships. We began with the Starr Hill brands, an Anheuser-Bush partner from Charlottesville, VA. Successful partnerships have since developed with the Clipper City Brewery from Baltimore, MD, Legend Beers from Richmond, VA and the Victory brands from Lancaster, PA.

We also added Apple & Eve juices, another non—aIcoholic brand in 2008. With the addition of the Phusion Projects and the Global Brands from Belgium in 2008 we were no longer an exclusive Anheuser-Bush wholesaler. In a constantly changing market with defined territories the need to diversify is important for continued growth. We continue to build relationships with other brewers, adding Castillo Italian Beers and Magner's Cider in 2009. Boylan Sodas joined our ranks in 2009 as well.

As we prepare for our 75"` anniversary in 2011, we celebrate the past, as a fourth generation family owned business and we are excited about the future. We have added additional warehouse space and now employ 98 team members. Our fleet has grown to 120 vehicles, from vans and pick-ups to tractor—trailers, including specialized event trucks and trailers.

Our commitment to the community and the environment is second to none. We have begun a green initiative, beginning with a complete replacement of our overhead lighting system and a total replacement of our office heating and cooling systems. We also committed to using only food grade, earth friendly chemicals in all of our processes.

We are proud supporters of the Marine Corp Heritage Foundation and the National Museum of the Marine Corp. Additionally, we support the Marine Corp Half—Marathon and the 1775 Marathon. We are also a major fundraiser for the Moss Free Clinic providing no-cost medical services for those unable to afford care.

With a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) position, we continue to educate the community with programs such as Anheuser-Bush’s Family Talk 8. College Talk. We offer retailers and venues sewer training (TIPS), and we are partnered with the Washing Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) to reduce drunk driving and educate teens. In partnership with our sister Anheuser-Bush Wholesalers, we are the sole beer sponsors of WRAP’s SoberRide program, furnishing free taxi rides on holidays.