Beck Suppliers celebrates its new Friendship Kitchen Store in Fremont with a ribbon cutting on Oct. 1. (Photo by Mark Schaffner)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

FREMONT – When Beck Suppliers held a ribbon cutting for its new Friendship Kitchen Store in Fremont on Oct. 1, the business became Beck’s 25th Friendship Kitchen Store in seven years and its 34th retail business. But it represents much more than retail space. The Fremont store is a brick-and-mortar legacy to the late Douglas Beck, the former Beck president whose dreams for growth were carried by a deep concern for Beck employees and the community.

Douglas passed away in 2018, but his presence was deeply felt at the ribbon cutting, where a plaque honoring his life and service to the community was unveiled.

Beck President and CEO Greg Ehrlich talks about the Beck legacy to the large crowd that gathered at the new Fremont location on Oct. 1. (Photo by Mark Schaffner)

Douglas’ desire to utilize business growth to impact others is shared by the entire Beck family and has always defined the Beck business model. Since Virgil Beck founded the business in 1950 as a way to serve his neighbors, the business has always had a helping hand stretched out as it reached upward to higher success.

“This family is special because they care about two things more than anything else,” said Beck President and CEO Greg Ehrlich. “They care about the happiness and wellbeing of their employees, and they care about the happiness and wellbeing of the people in the communities that they serve.”

Jon “Big Nut” Peters accepts a $10,000 from Beck Suppliers for the Sandusky County Community Foundation. Beck donated a total of $160,000 in recognition of its new Fremont location. (Photo by Mark Schaffner)

Beck has a history of investing millions of dollars annually into improving employee benefits, and in July, it became an employee-owned company. The move to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) secured employee jobs, as well as the impact the business has on the community. Its commitment to support community welfare is felt across the region, and Beck celebrated its new store by donating a total of $160,000 to ten local nonprofit organizations.

The integrity of the Beck business model has fueled success. This year, the four-generation company celebrates its 75th anniversary, its transition to being an employee-owned company, and its success in being awarded the Sandusky County Chamber of Commerce Large Business of the Year Award.

“2025 has been quite an exciting ride for the company,” Ehrlich said.

Beck Suppliers’ new Friendship Kitchen Store in Fremont is dedicated to the late Douglas Beck. (Photo by Mark Schaffner)

The future is looking even brighter. The Beck family’s integrity and benevolence have found a new foundation under the ESOP, and Douglas’ vision will live on in the new Fremont Friendship Kitchen Store.

Beck’s newest Friendship Kitchen Store is located at 1927 W. State St. in Fremont. For more information, visit www.friendshipstores.com.