1927
L.T. Acosta opens a family-run, single-market food broker, servicing the Jacksonville, FL, area. The company is known as L.T. Acosta Company, Inc.
1956
Louis Acosta persuades Robert H.(Hy) Albritton, president and owner of Common & Co. Food Brokers, to merge with L.T. Acosta Co.
1959
L.T. Acosta retires and Hy Albritton becomes president and CEO of L.T. Acosta Co.
1974
Hy Albritton retires and Del Dallas becomes president of the company and an expansion plan is initiated. Acosta Sales Co. begins its first stage of expansion by opening an office in Tampa, FL. In the process, Acosta becomes one of the first companies to offer manufacturer representation in more than one geographic area.
1977
1977-1983. Acosta becomes a regional agency, opening offices in Florida statewide (1991), Alabama (1977) and Georgia (1983).
1989
1989 - 1990s: Acosta continues extending its reach through acquisitions in the Carolinas, Tennessee, Virginia, and Louisiana; the 1990s brought mass consolidation of food retailers and manufacturers and centralization of procurement centers.
1993
Gary Chartrand becomes president of Acosta.
1996
Gary Chartrand is named Acosta’s CEO.
1998
1998 to 2008: Acosta grows throughout the mid-West, West, Southwest, and Canada (2002) and expands coverage into the natural/specialty sales, fresh foods (2004), drug (2008), military (2008), and marketing/promotions (2009) channels.
2009
1/2009: Robert Hill becomes Acosta’s fifth president and CEO, Gary Chartrand moves to executive chairman of the board and celebrates 25 years with Acosta.
2009
12/2009: Acosta continues acquisitions to enhance its presence in the fresh foods and drug channels.
2010
5/2010: Acosta announces the acquisition of TrueDemand and the latest release of its award-winning software creating the first truly integrated end-to-end shelf management solution for CPG manufacturers.
2010
6/2010: Acosta acquires FrontLine Marketing, a leading national in-store advertising network and shopper marketing company.
2011
01/2011: Acosta Marketing Group (AMG) is formed to offer enhanced integrated marketing services.
2012
02/2012: Acosta acquires Griffin Strategic Advisors, a comprehensive strategy and operations management consulting firm specializing in helping organizations improve profitability and accelerate growth. Griffin combined with Acosta’s Marketing Group (AMG) to form AMG Strategic Advisors.
2012
04/12: Acosta enters the food service industry with the acquisition of Venture Sales Group.
2012
05/12: Acosta acquires Quality Sales & Marketing, the leading food service agency serving North and South Carolina.