Small Town News

D and L Distributing has new ownership, still providing community-oriented service

---

Profiles In Business

Terry Givens is now the new owner of D and L Distributing, but he has no intention of changing things.

"We're a service-oriented, community-oriented distributor, and we always will be as long as I'm here, "Givens said.

Givens has worked at D and L for 25 years and has been the general manager and partner for 15 to 16 years. He was a partial owner with Greg Bouchard who decided he wanted to sell his share this year.

D and L distributes soft drinks, alcohol, water and other beverages to convenience stores, grocery stores and schools. It has been in business since 1961.

Soft drinks include RC, Dr. Pepper, Sunkist, Squirt, Snapple, A & W and 7Up. Alcoholic beverages include MillerCoors products, Smirnoff, imported beers and items from craft breweries including Sierra Nevada Brewing, Samuel Adams and Alaskan Brewery Company.

In addition, D and L offers Red Bull, Rock Star, Alpine Water, Deja Blue, Fiji water and Nestle products such as Juicy Juice, Nesquik and Coffee-Mate creamer.

Givens said D and L distributes across more" than 12, 000 square miles from the Oregon border to Sierra City, north and south, and from the base of Mt. Lassen to the Nevada border, east and west.

D and L also sponsors numerous events in the community including the Coors Light County Night at the Lassen County Fair, the Momboosa Festival in Chester and shows at the Plumas-Sierra County Fair.

In addition, Givens said D and L beverages to numerous youth events including the annual fishing derby and the Rocky Mountain Elks Foundation Spike Club.

"That's what we're all about. All of my kids were raised here, and my grand-kids are here. The employees who work here are raising kids here. "We're a small community and we've got to help each other out, "he said.

D and L employs 31, including seven in Quincy.

The business has won several awards including the 7UP Bottling Company of Reno's Distributor of the Year, a sales contest with MillerCoors and was given the Junior Livestock Auction's 1996 and 2009 volume buyer award.

Victor Dwayne and his wife, Mary Bouchard, Greg Bouchard's parents, started the business and partnered with LeRoi Smith.

D and L stands for Dwayne and LeRoi. Greg took the business over but moved to Mexico 18 years ago where Givens said he worked as a hunting guide. He now lives in Montana and has started a small family restaurant.

Givens became part owner after Greg moved to Mexico.

He said he thinks D and L has been successful because of the "ability to be honest and forthcoming with the retailers and to provide them with quality service."

Givens also credited the staff.

"It's about the quality people we have that make D and L grow and prosper and tick. It's not about me or Greg or Dwayne, "he said.

D and L Distributing is located at 795 Alexander Ave. For more information call the Susanville office at 257-4048, or in Quincy at 283-5673.



Copyright 2010 Lassen County Times, Susanville, California. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2011 Lassen County Times Susanville, California. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

More from Lassen County Times