Yusef Jackson's Ownership Group Purchases Anheuser-Busch Chicago Distributorship

Jet, Dec 14, 1998

An ownership group headed by attorney Yusef D. Jackson recently purchased the Anheuser-Busch Inc. company-owned River North distributorship in Chicago.

Jackson and his brother, Jonathan Jackson, sons of civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., are both partners in the new group called River North Sales and Service. It is Anheuser-Busch's largest distributorship in Chicago.

Donald Niestrom Jr., a 10-year veteran of the River North operation, will also join the Jackson brothers as a partner in the new business.

The agreement was signed at JET press time and the transfer of the sale is scheduled to take effect Dec. 1, 1998.

August A. Busch IV, vice president, marketing, Anheuser-Busch Inc., said: "Their energy and broad-based business experience make Yusef and Jonathan Jackson and Donald Niestrom Jr., exactly the kind of people we look for to be wholesalers representing our company in the community.

Busch added, "Our brands are having a very good year in Chicago and our trends are up. We expect this bright, new management team will continue those positive trends in the months and years ahead."

The Jackson and Busch business deal stems from a common ground. The Jacksons and Busch grew up living in the shadow of a famous father. The Jacksons are the sons of famed civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. Busch IV is the son of August Busch III, chairman and CEO, Anheuser-Busch Inc., headquartered in St. Louis.

Yusef and Busch IV met at a dinner party and began chatting about their famous fathers. One thing led to another and "we started talking about doing business together," Yusef recently told the Chicago Tribune.

The three partners are all native Chicagoans. Yusef, an attorney, is a graduate of the University of Virginia Law School. Jonathan, a local businessman, is a graduate of Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. Niestrom is a 10-year veteran of the River North distributorship.

Yusef Jackson, president of River North, noted, "This is a wonderful business opportunity. My partners and I are proud to have the opportunity to help make Budweiser and Bud Light Chicago's Number one and Number two brands."

Jackson added, "We will grow this business by promoting responsible use of our products, taking an active role in the community and building upon Anheuser-Busch's tradition of unmatched service to its retailers and fresh, quality products to its customers."

Jackson also noted that he is totally devoted to the distributorship. "You will find me on the trucks in the morning and out with our retailers and other customers in the evening," he said. "It has taken a long time to earn this opportunity, and we are going to make the most of it."

The sale will not result in any changes in the distribution of Anheuser-Busch brands to retailers or affect the employees at the distributorship.

Anheuser-Busch is the world's largest brewer and maintains a sophisticated distribution system involving approximately 700 wholesalers nationwide.