06/16/2026
Today's Family-Owned & Operated Business spotlight is on John P. O'Sullivan Distributing, Inc. Founded on January 2, 1976, they are proudly celebrating their 50th anniversary this year! We're turning it over to them to share their story in their own words.
"John O’Sullivan got his start in the beer business as a tour guide at Stroh’s Brewery in Detroit while he worked his way through college. He then began calling on distributors around mid-Michigan as a Brewery Sales Representative. When one of those companies, owned by the Moyer family, came up for sale, John recruited a partner, Mike Sullivan, and together they purchased the business and formed Sullivan & O’Sullivan Distributing. John bought out his partner in 1992, and the company has been solely owned by the O’Sullivan family since.
John P. O'Sullivan Distributing is proud to be a multi-generational, family-owned company with our roots firmly planted in Mid-Michigan. What began as a local beer distributorship servicing two counties has grown into one of Michigan's leading beverage distributors, serving more than 2,200 retailers, restaurants, and bars across 11 counties.
Our culture is built on the same values that guided the company from the beginning: hard work, integrity, exceptional customer service, and strong relationships with our employees, suppliers, and customers. We take particular pride in our low employee turnover and the fact that many of our 150 team members have spent significant portions of their careers with our company.
The company remains family-led today under President and CEO Joanie O'Sullivan-Butler, who represents the second generation of ownership. As we continue to grow—including our investment in a new 210,000-square-foot state-of-the-art distribution facility that we opened in October of 2024 —we remain committed to supporting local communities, creating jobs, and carrying our family legacy forward for future generations.
At our core, we're still a local family business that believes success comes from taking care of people—our employees, our customers, our supplier partners, and the communities we serve."
