About Us

Carolina Eagle Distributing Company, Inc., is a third generation beer distributorship that began in Wyandotte, Michigan with Joe Saputo’s grandfather Mr. Joe Barraco in 1933. Joe’s father, Mr. Russell Saputo, Sr., began his career in 1949 in Wayne, Michigan. Joe started working for his father in 1968. He then purchased his own distributorship in upstate New York in 1979. At that time he serviced four counties (Rockland, Orange, Sullivan and Ulster) until 1995 when he sold the company to purchase Carolina Eagle Distributing Co., Inc. In 2005 the 4th generation of Saputo’s entered the company, Russ Saputo. Upon graduating from East Carolina University in 1999, Russ went to work for Anheuser-Busch in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He stayed in Tulsa and excelled from Merchandiser to a District Sales Manager. Russ then became the Market Manager for Anheuser-Busch in Springfield, Illinois. He was responsible for 8 local wholesalers. Russ remained in Illinois until his departure to purchase Carolina Eagle Distributing. He is currently Co-Owner and Vice President of the company. In addition he is currently serving a 3 year term on the prestigious Anheuser-Busch Wholesaler Advisory Panel where he represents Region 2 Wholesalers for Anheuser Busch.
Carolina Eagle services retails accounts in parts of Nash, Edgecombe, Franklin, Warren, North-Hampton counties and all of Halifax County. The company employs 49 people and is located in a 43,000 square foot, temperature controlled building in Rocky Mount, NC.