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Connection with local communities paramount to Pacific Northwest distributor's success
WITH A DISTRIBUTION TERRITORY THAT SPANS PARTS OF WASHINGTON state, Idaho, Oregon and all of Alaska, one might wonder how The Odom Corp., Bellevue, Wash., has excelled throughout the years while dealing with factors like challenging weather climates and a broad territorial footprint.
"The Odom Corp. has always operated in challenging geographical environments," says Adam Hilpert, chief revenue officer for The Odom Corp. "Alaska was the original platform for the company's growth, and servicing the needs of our customers across a state that has over 600,000 square miles - with extreme weather conditions - can be incredibly difficult. The very nature of the market we serve has mandated that Odom be flexible and responsive to the ever-changing environment around us."
That flexible mindset is not the only contributing factor to the distributor 's success. Through longstanding relationships between its team members and customers, The Odom Corp. has developed strong connections to the communities it serves, Hilpert explains.
"Odom is able to provide local support and solutions while still benefiting from the scale of being a multi- state distribution system," he says. "Customer service has always been at the heart of Odom's core values, and this commitment continues today through the efforts of all of our talented team members. In an industry that is seeing a movement toward 'mega wholesalers,' Odom still believes that the connection with the local community is paramount to driving the long-term success of our business."
This dedication to its markets and customers is one of the many reasons that The Odom Corp. was the recipient of a 2013 MillerCoors President's Award and was selected as Beverage Industry's 2014 Wholesaler of the Year.
EVOLVING WITH THE TIMES
With a history dating back to 1934, The Odom Corp. has experienced its share of changes during its 80-year history. Founded by Milt Odom in 1934 as Odom & Co., the Juneau, Alaska-based business originally sold liquor, coffee, meat, candy and baked goods. However, in 1937, the company expanded its portfolio when Milt Odom paid $1 to acquire the Coca-Cola franchising rights in Anchorage, Alaska.
Although Milt Odom passed away in 1988, the company still maintains its family-business roots with Milt Odom's sons John,...