It takes about a year from the time barley is grown in the field until consumers can hold a beer in their hand. Getting the beer to you is when D-S Beverages in Moorhead and company president Doug Restemayer take over the process.
Restemayer was “smart enough to marry one of founder Don Setter’s four daughters” and purchased the business from Setter 16 years ago. Since then D-S Beverages has expanded three times and is moving ahead with another addition to be completed in early 2017.
His father-in-law built the business from nothing, first selling yeast. On Father’s Day 16 years ago, Restemayer and his wife, Connie, were home visiting family. Restemayer had a successful career with Target, but was intrigued when Setter said he wanted to sell the business. Two weeks later, he was the owner. “I knew it was meant to be,” he said. His father-in-law “let me run the show from the minute I walked in.” They worked side-by-side for a decade. “Don taught me how to treat people, how to build a team.”
Even though the 85-year-old Setter has not visited the office for a few years, his office remains the same. Setter is featured in a photo in Restemayer’s office with Doug and Connie’s two sons – all of them Eagle Scouts. Doug was a Scoutmaster and earned the Beaver Award.
Restemayer is a planner and loyal family man – he also loves beer, now. He wasn’t much of a beer fan but has learned a great deal. “Growth through acquisition, growth in the base business with seven products in the beginning to more than 1,200 now, and growth in non-alcoholic beverages have changed the business,” he says.
“Now we have a crazy configuration of packaging and number of ounces in containers. Micro brews are growing but 90 percent of the market is still macro brews. We carry local and other craft beers, such as Kona from Hawaii and Alaska from Juneau – we provide what our customers want,” he says.
He also provided one Moorhead family with a really special delivery last Friday. Susan Schroeder won a D-S Beverages contest. Not only did she receive a 24-pack of Budweiser beer, it was delivered by one of the three official Budweiser Clydesdale hitch teams.
Having eight 2,000-pound Clydesdales and a 6,500-pound beer wagon deliver beer was the prize. The neighborhood turned out and even Clyde, one of three official Budweiser Dalmatians, was on hand. Clyde is a coach dog. In the early days of delivering, Dalmatians protected the horses and wagon when the driver went inside.
The hitch was featured at last Thursday’s Red Hawks baseball game when D-S Beverages did Military Appreciation Night. When the gentle giant horses pulled the wagon around the field and stopped at first base for the National Anthem, the crowd cheered.
Restemayer is happy to support the military and many other community groups and events. He is happy to be part of a Moorhead legacy, too.
The family theme carries through to all the employees. When Restemayer began, the company had 24 employees. Now the count is 83 with some of them former college students who worked at night stocking and studying.
“I love our team. They all do their jobs and we get things done for our customers and community,” he said.
Active in the community, Restemayer just concluded a year as Chamber chair and continues to be on the board. He was the building chair for the Boy Scouts of America new headquarters.
“We have a great team – they are our secret sauce. They are loyal. One of the guys has been here 36 years.
“I'm just a beer salesman, taking care of our team.”
