Who Is Alex Lee "If your customers are successful and your suppliers are successful, then you will be successful."​ This was the philosophy of our founder, Moses George, and later his two sons, Alex and Lee, when they purchased Merchants Produce Company in 1931. This philosophy has stood the test of time for four generations, as the company has continued to grow and evolve into one of the largest food retail and wholesale distribution companies in the South-Eastern United States. All without losing its homegrown roots or its focus on customers, employees and our community. 85 years later, Alex Lee, Inc. works as a unifying force, guiding and supporting its two operating companies - Merchants Distributors, LLC (MDI), a wholesale grocery distributor operating in 12 different states with more than 1500 employees; and Lowes Foods, LLC, a grocery retailer with over 100 stores and 10,000 hosts. Why do our customers believe in us? Because we never take them for granted. We work harder and smarter in order to always matter, to stay relevant, and to make a real difference. A testament to our superior service is how we've helped thousands of independent supermarkets stand up and win against national chains and discount retailers. Making a real difference is something that matters to our people. It's what keeps them here for the long term and gives them reason and purpose that extends beyond the norm. Our employees would also say that being part of a privately-held, family-owned business stands in stark contrast to many other companies. We have the freedom to think bigger and reach higher, without the bureaucracy of red tape getting in the way. We also benefit from the inheritance of a value system that has guided our founders, and the generations following them, on their journey forward. What's more, our culture is one that upholds continuity vs short-term results, and balanced with a passion for embracing the new, innovative and yet-to-be-thought-of.

PEPSI COLA BOTTLING CO OF HICKORY NC INC is a company based out of PO BOX 550, Hickory, North Carolina, United States.

Westrock Coffee Company, LLC is the leading integrated coffee, tea, and extract service provider in the US, providing sourcing and financing, supply chain management, roasting, packaging, and distribution services to retailers, restaurants, convenience stores, commercial accounts, and hospitality customers around the world. With offices in ten countries, Westrock Coffee sources coffee from 35 origin countries.

Kaplan Early Learning Company brings the very best in early childhood and elementary school supplies, teaching materials and outdoor classrooms to educators, caregivers, and parents around the world. Our mission is to provide products and services that enhance children's learning. A leader in the field of early care and education, we bring to market innovative curriculums, cutting-edge assessments, teacher resource materials, and professional development opportunities to businesses and institutions, including schools, private child care providers, faith-based programs and government facilities. Kaplan has always been a family oriented business. From humble beginnings as a small toy store dedicated to providing unique toys and gifts that promote learning through play, the company has grown into the only full-service provider in the field of early care and education. It all started in 1951 when Leon and Renee Kaplan opened Tiny Town, a toy store in Greensboro, North Carolina. As Tiny Town grew, so did Leon's interest in educational books and toys. In 1968 he founded Kaplan Early Learning Company, affirming his commitment to providing toys that teach. Leon and Renee's son Hal joined the company in 1969 and he serves as the President and CEO today. With average employee tenure exceeding ten years, you'll always find warm and knowledgeable individuals ready to serve you from our state-of-the-art distribution center in Lewisville, NC. Our campus includes two office buildings, a 160,000 square foot warehouse, a 350,000 square foot, state-of-the-art distribution center, and a retail showroom which is open to the public.

Part of a very exclusive group of fire equipment companies that operates in the US and abroad, Brooks is also one of the oldest in the industry. Started in 1941, by Steve Brooks and Charles Neal, we were founded on two rock-solid principles—offer quality products with professional service. Maintaining that mantra for over 75 years, Brooks has enjoyed a degree of customer loyalty typically not found anymore. From our modest beginnings to our position as one of the leading business-to-business suppliers in the fire equipment industry, Brooks is more relevant today than ever before. With 16 locations across the United States and access to over 200,000 "quality"​ products from more than 600 brand name manufacturers, no one has more of what you need than Brooks. Add our "professional"​ services to that, and you have what makes us the first choice of fire equipment distributors everywhere. And it is all backed by our industry-best "Customer Satisfaction Guarantee"​.

FSIoffice is a family-owned office supply dealer headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. With over 250 employees and nine distribution sites, FSIoffice is one of the largest independent office supply dealers in the world. FSIoffice is a woman-owned business serving areas of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia. Exceptional customer service, low prices, and free delivery are just a few of the ways we provide quality experience every day for our customers.

With over 40 years of experience, Data Imaging offers a vast knowledge of the printing and promotional products industries. We offer exceptional service, competitive pricing, and personal attention. Our experienced representatives take special care to evaluate and understand your printing needs. Whether it's an existing job, the need for a new logo and communications package, or a company brochure, we can manage the entire process for you. We also offer an extensive line of promotional products whether you need them to promote your business or recognize your employees. We offer decorated apparel, awards, electronics and accessories, bags, sport items, school/college products, tradeshow ideas, banners, inflatables, badge holders and cards, lanyards, kitchen utensils, healthcare items, automotive products, stickers, magnets, mugs, bottles, stadium chairs/seats, blankets, baskets, food items, gifts, safety apparel/items, aprons, hats, visors, golf items, etc.

FORSHAW has been supplying confidence through our commitment to people, partners, and performance for over 60 years. Standing as a third-generation, family-owned and operated national distribution business, FORSHAW has been providing years of experience and dependability within the Pest Management & Wildlife industries. Recognized as an industry leader, we are leaning forward and delivering more, while providing strategic solutions to help both vendors and clients. Our vision is to provide personalized service, training opportunities, innovative technological and business standards, all while delivering on-time results and exceptional customer service through our 11 branches nationwide.

Sun Drop is a soda. A citrus soda to be precise. It's like a giant pipeline of refreshment channeled directly to you, for the sole purpose of quenching your thirst.

The largest arts organization in the Carolinas, Blumenthal Performing Arts is a nonprofit, multi-venue performing arts complex. Comprising six state-of-the-art theaters along Charlotte's “cultural mile” - it is nationally recognized as a Top 10 touring Broadway market and is the largest performing arts center between Atlanta and Washington, D.C. Blumenthal's mission is to present the best in the performing arts and, in partnership with others, share and employ the arts as a major catalyst to strengthen education, build community cohesiveness and advance economic growth. Each season guests travel from Mecklenburg and 15 surrounding counties to experience the 800+ performances that take place at Blumenthal Performing Arts. Blumenthal infuses between $36 million and $56 million annually into our economy. More than 690,000 individuals attend performances and events at Blumenthal Performing Arts each year.

Richter and Company is a family-owned, family-grown business whose farmers have delivered fruits and vegetables from field to table since 1926. We offer the finest labels in the South, handpicked and sent at the peak of freshness to grocery stores and retailers throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. A family value that defines our philosophy is that we are part of a continuum, building on the past to make a better future. That's why we are dedicated to innovation, technology and sustainability — making things better, making things easier, making good things last. We care about the stamp our family leaves on this world.

Founded in 1977, Tailored Chemical Products is a leading mid-sized manufacturer of adhesives based in Hickory, North Carolina. The company that began as a small adhesives manufacturer in a 4,000 square foot facility, has now grown to four strategically located production centers in North Carolina, giving us a total of 325,000 square feet of manufacturing space. We manufacture a full line of hot melts, water-based glues, emulsion polymers, mastics, urea and synthetic resins and other specialty chemicals for any industrial application. If we don't already make the adhesive you're seeking, we have the in-house expertise to formulate an adhesive "Tailored"​ to your needs. Tailored Chemical Products is a company committed to customer satisfaction and versatility in product design. We do not have the attitude of "one size fits all."​ Rather, we exhibit a willingness that is unparalleled in the industry to "think outside the box"​ - to adapt new or improved adhesive technologies and ideas into every product we manufacture. We are confident in our ability to offer the best customized and comprehensive adhesive solutions to every customer.