Our Story

We've been distributing the beverages you love for Three Generations! 

 

 

Our love for the beer industry began even before Doll Distributing was founded.

Our founder, Merlin Doll, got his start working at Storz Brewing Company in Omaha, Nebraska. One Christmas Eve, Mr. Storz called Merlin into his office to share difficult news—the brewery would be closing its doors for the final time, leaving Merlin without a job. Rather than stepping away from an industry he loved, Merlin leaned into it. He reached out to the many relationships he had built over the years to explore the possibility of becoming a distributor.

That leap of faith led Merlin and his wife, Edith Doll, to purchase Simmons Distributing in Hastings, Nebraska. With a starting inventory of just 2,260 Anheuser-Busch cases, 33 Budweiser kegs, 355 Goetz cases, and seven tap accounts, Doll Distributing began its journey—one that would open doors for generations to come.

On December 23, 1965, Doll Distributing sold the Hastings distributorship and purchased Michaels Distributing in Council Bluffs, Iowa. In its first year of operation, the company sold approximately 40,000 cases of Anheuser-Busch and 12,000 cases of Pabst Blue Ribbon and Grain Belt.

In 1987, the second generation—Jeff, Mark, Tami, Scott, and Jay Doll—purchased the business from their parents and began seeking opportunities to grow. That vision became reality on April 21, 1988, with the acquisition of the Red Oak, Iowa territory. This expansion increased Doll’s footprint from three counties to eleven and grew the customer base to 540 across Southwest Iowa.

Growth continued steadily:

  • December 15, 2006 – Acquisition of Nesbit Distributing in Des Moines, expanding to 21 counties and more than 2,000 customers.

  • November 9, 2007 – Acquisition of Grinnell Beverage Company.

  • December 10, 2010 – Acquisition of Whittenburg Distributing in Spencer, Iowa, and Kabrick Distributing in Britt, Iowa, expanding into northern and northwest Iowa.

  • May 1, 2015 – Acquisition of Hagen Distributing in Worthington, Minnesota, officially becoming a two-state distributor.

  • January 1, 2022 – Expansion into eastern Iowa through the purchase of a competitive craft portfolio, enabling distribution from the Missouri River to the Mississippi River.

  • December 5, 2025 – Expansion into South Dakota with the acquisition of Ellwein Brothers and John A. Conkling Distributing.

  • January 2, 2026 – Continued expansion into North Dakota with the acquisitions of McQuade Distributing and Valley Distributing, making Doll Distributing a four-state distributor.

Throughout our history, Doll Distributing has remained committed to Building Brands; Building Relationships. We have invested in state-of-the-art technology to continuously improve our facilities and operations, allowing us to deliver industry-leading in-stock rates and shipping accuracy. We are equally committed to being a top-tier employer—providing high-quality benefits, a positive work environment, and a collaborative culture for our 480 team members.

Today, the second and third generations of the Doll family work side by side, carrying forward our mission to be the best beverage distributor in the industry—measured by our communication, customer service, efficient processes, and growth.

We look to the future with enthusiasm and reflect on our past with deep admiration.