History

The Bear Family Foundation derives its reputation from a longtime family business, The Lewis Bear Company, located in Pensacola, Florida.

Founded in 1876, the same year that Budweiser was introduced, a Bavarian immigrant named Lewis Bear established a grocery and chandlery shop in Pensacola, Florida. Over the years, the company evolved from a grocery wholesaler to the regions most respected beer distribution company.

Family owned and operated for five generations, The Lewis Bear Company is the oldest privately held corporation in Florida, as well as Anheuser-Busch’s oldest continuous distributor.

Today, The Lewis Bear Company handles more than 300 different brands; everything from iconic global labels to beloved local craft beers, not to mention high-end sodas and waters.

The Lewis Bear Company operates two warehouse/distribution centers, located in Pensacola and Ebro (east of Pensacola), and employs a team of more than 210 professionals who are focused on building strong relationships with the community and their customers.

Bear Family Portrait