- November 21, 2024
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As she looked over the large crowd gathered in front of the stage set up in the parking lot of the company founded 60 years ago by her parents, S. R. Perrott President Michele Connors raised her beer in the air.
"It took one case at a time and now we're at 3,200,000 cases of beer sold a year," Connors said. "You guys are awesome and I'm so proud to be here, to represent everyone. This community is incredible."
S.R. Perrott, a beverage distributing company, celebrated its 60th-anniversary on Friday, April 22, with a large party held at its Ormond Beach headquarters at 1280 N. U.S. 1. Featuring food from local restaurants, a craft beer tasting area, beverage stands, classic cars, axe throwing and more, the event culminated with a surprise performance by country music singer Jake Owen.
S.R. Perrott, which employs over 200 people, opened its headquarters in 2014 after outgrowing its original location at 4 N. Perrott Drive. Since then, they have expanded the building twice, with the most recent being a 38,732-square-foot addition in 2020. The building now spans over 160,000 square feet.
At the celebration, Connors was presented with proclamation by Mayor Bill Partington and City Commissioner Susan Persis, in recognition of the company's accomplishments since it was founded in 1962 by Samuel R. and Marriette Perrott. According to the proclamation, the company began by selling beverages out of the back of station wagon. It now has distribution rights in Volusia, Flagler and parts of Putnam County, with a portfolio of over 75 suppliers.
Partington spoke of the banners provided by S.R. Perrott during the pandemic to help local businesses communicate to their patrons that they were still open for business, as well as the company's donation of over $3 million a year to Step Up for Students, a nonprofit that provides low-income students, bullied students and students with special needs with scholarship. S.R. Perrott has also supported events like the Bruce Rossmeyer Ride for Children for the last 27 year, which has raised over $6 million for a special needs camp.
The company has also created a line of wines that support local charities, such as the Halifax Humane Society, Provision Packs and the Turtle Conservatory.
"Need I say more on why they're so deserving of this proclamation?" the mayor asked as the crowd cheered.
And the female-run company is going on its third-generation of family ownership, Connors said.
"We are still here," she said. "To our 200 employees and their families, we are still here for you. And to our 1,700 customers we service, we are still here for you. If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't be here right now."