our roots

Adamson Distributing was founded in 1963 by JR & Annabelle Adamson.  The company started with 4 employees covering 160 retailers in 5 counties with 38 products.

In 1991, Don & Laurie Adamson purchased the company from Jr & Annabelle and continued accumulating brands and growing the territory. In 2010 Adamson Distributing had 10 employees, covered approximately 175 retailers in 11 counties, and had 100+ products in its portfolio. 

In 2012, Brandon and Melissa (Adamson) Browne joined the business and have since become part-owners. The company doubled its size in 2016 when they purchased the Premier Midwest – Norfolk branch, creating a new company called Heartland Beverage.  The 2019 snapshot of Adamson Distributing and Heartland Beverage has: 25 employees covering 680 retailers in 22 counties with over 1,000 packages.

Timeline

1933

Clinton ‘Boy’ Gatz opened Storz Distributorship

1951

Jr Adamson went to work for Boy Gatz at Storz Distributorship

1963

Jr and Annabelle Adamson purchased Storz Distributorship and renamed it Adamson Distributing

1967

The company started distributing 10oz bottles of pop (Dr Pepper, Squirt, 7up, RC, and the Nesbitt Flavors in orange, strawberry, root beer, and grape)

1968

The New Warehouse was built at 300 S. 10th Street (120’ by 80’)

1977

Adamson Distributing picked up Coors and dropped all other beer

1979

Don Adamson began working for Adamson Distributing

Adamson Distributing became incorporated

1985

Laurie Adamson began working for the company

1986

The first computer was brought into the business

1990

Don became the youngest approved Coors Distributor in the United States at the age of 30.

1991

Don & Laurie Adamson purchased Adamson Distributing Co., Inc.

1997

Adamson Distributing bought out their leading distributing competitor, Becker Distributing and became O’Neill’s only locally owned beverage distributor

Warehouse addition completed (120’ by 60’)

Distribution rights for Heineken, Pabst, and Old Milwaukee, Liquor, Wine, and 7 Springs Water were purchased

1998

Adamson Distributing won the MillerCoors Presidents Award

2004

The rights to distribute Miller to the Western Nebraska area (Brown, Rock, Keya Paha, and Cherry county) were purchased from Dietrich Distributing.

2005

The franchise rights for Miller was purchased for the distribution area
The distribution rights for Red Bull and New Belgium were also obtained

2007

Adamson Distributing was the last nationally appointed Miller Distributor before MillerCoors merged

2008

Became MillerCoors Distributors
Purchased distributor rights for Mikes Hard Lemonade and Paulaner Brewing Company

2009

Distributor rights for Camo Brewing Company were obtained

2012

Brandon & Melissa (Adamson) Browne join the company full time

2013

Coors distribution rights for Cherry County were obtained

Shandy Cup Champion – Leinenkugel = Adamson Distributing

2014

Bill Coors National Quality Award = Adamson Distributing

Purchased rights for all products to be distributed in Loup, Wheeler, & Garfield counties

2015

Bill Coors National Quality Award = Adamson Distributing

2016

Bill Coors National Quality Award = Adamson Distributing

Adamson Distributing doubled its market size and purchased the Norfolk branch from Premier Midwest and gained distribution to 11 counties for all beer brands. A new company, Heartland Beverage, was created to cover this new market.  Heartland Beverage is Norfolk’s only locally owned beer distributor.

2017

Bill Coors National Quality Award = Heartland Beverage

Bill Coors Regional Quality Award = Adamson Distributing

Mikes March Madness Champion = Adamson Distributing