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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
I discovered a note of obvious pride in the voices of William and Peter Mouskondis as they told me the story of Nicholas Mouskondis, their father and grandfather respectively. Nicholas came to America in 1907, hoping to secure work in the mines.
With an eighth grade education, no knowledge of the English language, a few dollars in his pocket and a sign on his back reading "Utah," 17-year-old Nicholas began his trek to the promised land of opportunity.
Nicholas didn't last long in the mining business because his frame was too small for the arduous work. He started doing some minor foodstuff trading and in 1939 opened a small grocery store on Fourth South in Salt Lake City between Sixth and Seventh East. Later, Nicholas sold that plot of land and started concentrating on food service to restaurant operators.
That humble start was the beginning of the giant Nicholas & Company of today. It is a private company with more than 500 employees, carries 14,000 line items of inventory and occupies a beautiful 400,000-square-foot facility in the International Center in Salt Lake City. It is the 14th largest company of its kind in the world! It also supplies every type of food item, from soup to nuts, for customers in seven states.
More than 100 salespeople make regular calls on major customers such as Burger King, Subway and Artic Circle as well as other large local restaurants and hundreds of smaller "mom and pop" diners. Peter told me every restaurant food service establishment is, in his eyes, a potential customer.
William (Bill) joined his father in the business after he finished his military service and graduated from Westminster College in 1958. He and his wife, Elyce, labored long and hard during the burgeoning growth years of the company. As the current president and chief operating officer, Peter became the third-generation leader of the company and along with his wife, Nicole, is continuing the strong and successful Mouskondis family legacy.
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
