Prominent Sarasota beer, beverage distributor names new president

The Saputo family, one of most prominent beverage and beer distribution families in Florida, is changing its leadership structure. 

Andrea Saputo Cox was recently named president and equity manager/owner of the company, Lakewood Ranch-based Gold Coast Eagle Distributing. Gold Coast provides Anheuser-Busch/InBev products to some 1,600 groceries, bars, restaurants, hotels and more in the Sarasota-Bradenton area every week. The company also distributes bottled water, energy drinks and non-alcoholic beverages. 

Saputo Cox replaces her father, John Saputo, in the role. The elder Saputo, while not officially retiring, will slow down — at least a little, his daughter says. Saputo will remain CEO of both Gold Coast Eagle and another distributorship, north of Cincinnati, overseen by Devyn Dugger, who is Saputo’s son-in-law. Gold Coast Eagle acquired the Ohio company, Dickerson Distributing, in 2014.