Standard Beverage ~ About Standard Beverage

About Standard Beverage

Standard Beverage Corporation, originally Standard Mercantile, was founded in 1949 by Mr. Sam Rudd. Kansas prohibition laws had just been repealed by the voters of Kansas and Standard Mercantile was issued the third wholesale license to operate in the state of Kansas.

The Rudd family traces its roots in the industry to Colorado where they were the original manufacturers of wood cooperage for the Coors Brewery of Golden, Colorado. Upon graduating from the University of Denver in 1935, Mr. Rudd moved to Wichita, Kansas. Sam and his wife Elenore, began Standard Mercantile in a small 5,000 square foot warehouse and primarily serviced the Wichita market. Through their tireless efforts and commitment to their customers, their business grew rapidly. The name was changed to Standard Liquor Corporation and in the 1950’s, SLC opened branch facilities in Lawrence and Great Bend. In 1959 SLC moved to a 40,000 square foot facility in Wichita.

In 1965, Leslie Rudd, the Rudd’s only son, who had grown up in the business, joined SLC as a sales representative upon his graduation from Wichita State University. Following the principles of success established by his father: professional service, aggressive marketing, and close partnerships with suppliers, Leslie quickly moved up in the company. In 1969, he became Vice President and engineered the most successful share of market increase of any Kansas wholesaler (over the next decade.) Leslie advanced accordingly and was named President in 1974.

Through foresight and careful monitoring of changes in the business, Leslie positioned the company to become a statewide wholesaler when brand franchising, a concept he was instrumental in implementing, replaced open wholesaling in Kansas in 1979. Since that time, many other significant market changes have occurred including price decontrol, legalized advertising, and liquor by the drink. Standard Beverage Corporation has continued to prosper in this ever-changing environment by embracing change as a positive ally.

From those humble beginnings in 1949, SBC has grown to become the state’s largest, most progressive, efficient, and ethical wholesaler. Our greatest asset is our people. We’re 200 strong with a dedicated selling force of 68 Sales Representatives, seven Sales Managers, nine Vice Presidents, and four Executive Assistants.

We operate out of a central facility in Lawrence, Kansas, originally built in 1989, with 88,000 square feet of warehouse space and 12,000 square feet of office space. It was expanded by 40,000 square feet in 1995 and an additional 90,000 square foot expansion was completed in August 1998. Wichita, Kansas is home to our Southern Sales Office and we also maintain a 35,000 square foot warehouse. Our warehousing facilities have state of the art material handling capabilities and in excess of 15,000 square feet of climate controlled storage. Lenexa, Kansas, a suburb of greater Kansas City, is home to our northeast Kansas sales office. This modern, 50,000 square foot facility was completed in May of 1999. It represents our strong commitment to this fast growing market.

The business philosophy of Standard Beverage Corporation is best expressed in our company mission statement and its guiding principles.

The mission statement was the culmination of a year long process that included input from employees in all facets and areas of our company. It is the single most important tool we use in our daily business.

Standard Beverage Corporation is a full-line wholesale distributor of alcoholic beverages to licensed customers in Kansas. The company is committed to the development of quality partnerships with its customers, employees and suppliers for the purpose of ensuring long-term profitability and providing security and opportunity for our employees and shareholders. Embracing the philosophy of continuous improvement, the company focuses on serving the needs of both its customers and suppliers and maintaining its position as market leader, through the implementation of creative and innovative business practices. All transactions are guided by the ten principles of integrity.

Develop employees who understand our industry, mission and competitive position and are able to measure and evaluate progress toward organizational goals.

Form quality, long-term partnerships with our customers (internal and external) and develop employees who continually serve them in a committed manner.

Develop a culture of constructive discontent (burning desire to improve), which views positive changes an ally and where all employees adopt a commitment to continuously improve our systems and relationships with customers (external and internal), other employees and suppliers.

Develop an organizational culture in which all behavior rests on the question “Does the activity add value to the company and the accomplishment of its mission?”

Provide an environment where all employees fulfill their responsibilities to their fullest ability, and each individual’s unique knowledge and talents are recognized, utilized and rewarded.

A belief that each employee has the unique knowledge and ability to provide the best information to the problems incurred at their job level and a commitment from the company to empower them to solve those problems. All actions are to be taken within the framework of teamwork and synergy.

To keep employees well informed while creating an open and receptive climate whereby they feel comfortable in expressing their concerns and feeling relative to the corporate mission.

Develop profitable, long-term, quality partnerships with our suppliers based on the “win-win” philosophy. Seek first to understand, then to be understood.

Develop and improve information systems that measure current performance and progress towards the organization’s goals and objectives.

We will continually search for the tenth principle which will assist the organization in the attainment of its mission.