About R&K
Cheers through the years.
Ever since Rose and Kenneth Kirkpatrick founded the company in Longview in 1963, R&K Distributors has been serving East Texas with the mission to promote the responsible consumption of alcoholic beverages. Now with two branches, R&K boasts a service area spanning more than 27 counties. As far as our family business has come during the past five decades, we’re excited to see where the next generations will take us!
Many Generations. One Mission.
Our mission at R&K Distributors is to sell, deliver, rotate, properly price and merchandise all our supplier partner products to all properly licensed accounts within our assigned territory of responsibility. We expect our employees to have a productive career at R&K that will benefit them and their families. We will also uphold and promote our individual and corporate standards of excellence. It is our intention to create a positive work atmosphere focus on teamwork, professionalism, and freedom to exchange ideas. We will provide best-in-class facilities and equipment to our employees in order to train and maintain a high-performing workforce that will provide our customers with the finest value-added service and products in the beverage industry.
Core Values
- Provide a safe, professional, and positive working environment, both internally and externally.
- Create an environment which empowers every employee and inspires professional excellence.
- Strive for honesty and integrity in every aspect of our business, internal and external.
- Build relationships on open and honest communication.
- Support our local communities in which we live.
- Promote the responsible consumption of alcoholic beverages by consumers throughout our market.
Brands
Years
Counties Served
Locations
1963- 1963
- 1971
- 1986
- 2013
Founders – Rose & Kenneth Kirkpatrick
Rose and Kenneth Kirkpatrick purchase the Anheuser-Busch distributorship for East Texas in 1963.
First Location – Longview, TX
The founders base their new operation on Fifth Street near downtown Longview—an oasis in the midst of surrounding “dry” counties.
Second Branch – Nacogdoches, TX
Driven by new opportunities and substantial growth, Rose and Kenneth determine it’s time to open the company’s second branch and established the new location in Nacogdoches.
New Corporate Office
Construction begins on R&K’s new facility on Whaley Street in Longview—not far from the Gum Springs location—with 80,000 square feet of space designed specifically for the distributorship’s growing demands.
Cheers to 50 Years
Celebration for Generations!
As a member of the region’s business community promoting economic growth for more than 50 years, R&K hopes to continue celebrating family, fun, and opportunity with the people of East Texas for generations to come!