Who We Are
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Frank O’Malley and his two sons, Pat and Kevin, founded O’Malley Beverage, Inc. and purchased the James H. Overton Co. on December 23, 1985. O’Malley Beverage is the exclusive Anheuser-Busch distributor for 15 counties in northwest Missouri, with operations in St. Joseph, Trenton, and Maryville.
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At first, the Anheuser-Busch market share was the lowest in the state at just 24 percent. The O’Malley’s created a company culture focused on family and teamwork and quickly grew to be the largest beer distributor in northwest Missouri, increasing sales and growing market share every year. In January 1987, the Maryville operation was consolidated into St. Joseph. An increase in sales meant the O’Malleys needed a new facility. They moved into a new distribution center in November 1993. That newer and larger facility folded the Trenton operation into St. Joseph.
In September 2005, Pat and Kevin bought the Anheuser-Busch distributor in Lawrence, Kansas, covering six counties in northeast Kansas. Kevin moved his family to Lawrence to lead the Kansas operation, while Pat leads the Missouri operation.
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Shortly after the Kansas acquisition, craft beers began to take over taps. In order to stay relevant and meet consumer needs, O’Malley Beverage of Lawrence acquired many craft brands, including New Belgium, Sierra Nevada, and Odell in 2010. Over the past few years, the Lawrence operation has focused on craft breweries and has added some excellent brews to the company portfolio. Today, O’Malley Beverage’s brand portfolio is second to none. The organization distributes many of Kansas’ best craft breweries, including 23rd Street Brewery in Lawrence, Tallgrass from Manhattan, Wichita Brewing Company from Wichita, Defiance from Hays, and Walnut River from El Dorado. O’Malley Beverage of Missouri followed suit and bought the distribution rights for Boulevard Brewing in 2013, followed by Sam Adams and Boston Beer Co. in 2015.
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Frank, who is affectionately known as the “Big O,” was a big believer in giving back to the community, a tradition that continues throughout the O’Malley Beverage organization today. Employees and leadership of O’Malley Beverage serve on numerous boards and committees, always working hard to make the communities they serve the best places to live, work and play. Big O retired in April 1999, but his legacy lives on. To this day, many decisions are driven by the Big O’s influence.
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Today, the third generation of O’Malleys are helping lead the company. While the St. Joseph affiliate was sold in 2020, Kevin’s sons, Mike, Joe, and Dan Bourneuf, are leading the Lawrence operation.