Father-daughter duo mix risk with stability at $220M beer business

John Saputo recently met with a group of money people to sign the latest documents to take on debt for his $220 million family-run beverage distribution business, Gold Coast Eagle Distributing. It was a five-year series of financial tranches for the cash-heavy business, Saputo says, calling it “more debt than you could possibly believe.” 

One person in the room that day was his daughter, Andrea Saputo Cox. Recently named president and equity manager/owner of the Lakewood Ranch-based company, Saputo Cox signed the documents along with John Saputo. “She said ‘I’m here with you, I’m totally in,’” the elder Saputo says. “That was one of the proudest moments of my life.”