Merchants Distributors

Founded in 1891, H.T. Hackney Company s programs are created around the concept of offering customers the ability to obtain their entire store needs from one reliable source. As one of the largest wholesale distributors in the United States, the company services more than 20,000 retail customers and stocks thousands of products. Its customers include oil and convenience stores, drug stores, supermarkets, restaurants, travel centers, smoke shops and gift shops. H.T. Hackney has more than 30,000 products to choose from. Its main categories include cigarettes, tobacco, grocery, general merchandise, confections, snacks and beverages. With strategically located distribution centers, Hackney provides a distribution network covering 21 states. H.T. Hackney Company has a location in Newton, N.C.

Patco Foods Inc. is a distributor of Thumann's provisions for over 30 years. Located in Charlotte, N.C., it has been serving Charlotte and the surrounding areas of North and South Carolina for more than 14 years. The firm provides an array of Thumanns products, such as deli slicing meats, chesses, salads, soups, hot dogs, brats and sausage, condiments and frozen foods. Patco Foods Inc. distributes a full line of Simplot frozen foods. Additionally, it carries gourmet cookies from the Hilton Head Cookie Company, authentic New York Bagles from H&H Bagle Company, seafood products from Acme Smoked Fish and Steffano Gourmet Pizza Products.

Tropical Nut & Fruit is a food manufacturer, importer and distributor of bulk and packaged snacks and specialty foods. Founders Jerry York and Garland Williamson opened the first Tropical office in 1977 in Orlando, Fla. The company began with approximately 100 items consisting mostly of snack mixes, dried fruit, nuts, seeds, a few candies, beans, grains and flours. Its primary customers were health food stores, hotels and grocery stores. Its product line has grown to more than 3,000 items. It also has four Nut House retail outlets located in Atlanta; Charlotte, N.C.; Columbus, Ohio; and Memphis, Tenn. The company ships products anywhere in the United States from locations in Atlanta, Charlotte, Columbus, Dallas, Memphis, Orlando and Washington, D.C. Its production plants manufacture roast nuts and seeds daily and blend more than 50 bulk snack mixes. These facilities also package and rebox many items to meet customers' varied needs. Tropical Nut & Fruit maintains a location in Charlotte.