History
1976
Open for business
Mike Williams purchases the faltering Watkins-Sydnor Wholesale Distributor, established in 1948, that features a truck fleet of three 16-foot dry grocery trucks.
1979
New name
Company name changed to "M.R. Williams Wholesale Distributors" and the first computer is purchased, featuring a 10-megabyte hard drive connected to three CRT monitors.
1982
Expansion
MR Williams purchases 56,000 SQFT building behind original warehouse and moves operations to this location.
1991
Electronic ordering
Computer upgrade clears path for electronic order entry. Customers connect the MSI 55 & 65 to an existing phone to transmit orders directly to the IBM System 36 computer located on site at MR Williams.
1999
Lawson joins the team
The freezer is doubled, and additional office space added to the warehouse. Lawson Williams moves from Dallas to join MR Williams.
2004
New technology & facilities
MR Williams develops proprietary order and inventory management software. Novelty Express moves operations to its own facilities.
2018
Here we are
Today we operate a couple dozen tractor-trailers running routes throughout the Carolinas and surrounding states. We recently completed an 85,000 SQFT addition to our dry warehouse, and 8,000 SQFT addition to our freezer / cool dock to support the growing demand of foodservice. We’ve recently introduced our next generation of order and inventory management technology.
To Be Continued
We Aren't Finished
We have over 40 exciting years of innovation and growth behind us which will pale in comparison to what even the next decade alone will bring.
Build your future with MR Williams
We’ve got a lot of innovation and growth ahead of us. Learn how you can take part in that journey.