nov-2017c

44 45 MERCHANTS MARKET GROUP I n 1961, Isabel Amengual fled Cuba and began her career in food service in Baltimore,Maryland. In 1966, she moved with her employer to St.Thomas in the U.S.Virgin Islands to help turn around a failing food service business. In 1967, the company was purchased and re- named Merchants Market.“When Merchants Market first opened, it was primarily a retail establishment,” says RickWilson, current President of Merchants Market Group.“But it wasn’t long before Isabel saw a need to become a broadline, full-service distributor focusing on quality food and non-food products.There was a definite need to have inventory on the island to fully service the customers by having a wider variety of qual- ity products and providing shorter lead times in between ordering and delivery.” SERVING THE ISLANDS SINCE 1967 MERCHANTS MARKET GROUP AT A GLANCE MERCHANTS MARKET GROUP WHAT: A full-service food distributor WHERE: Headquarters in Riviera Beach, Florida WEBSITE: www.merchantsmarket.com