John D Georges

John Georges is the founder and CEO of Georges Enterprises, a company based in Elmwood, La. specializing in acquiring and growing businesses. It invests in food vending, grocery distribution, video/arcade entertainment, restaurants, and media outlets. The company began as Imperial Trading in 1916, a wholesale grocery distribution company founded by John Georges’ grandfather Gus Pelias. The company is now the eighth largest convenience store supplier in the nation. In April 2013, Georges Enterprises acquired The Advocate, a daily newspaper with New Orleans and Baton Rouge editions and websites covering nearby towns Ascension and Acadiana. According to Greater Baton Rouge Business Report, the deal cost Georges about $50 million. John Georges started out in the family business at a young age, sweeping warehouse floors at age 11 and making deliveries by age 15. His father, Dennis Georges, immigrated to the U.S. after serving in the Greek Resistance and the Royal Greek Air Force at a young age during World War II. He completed his studies at Tulane University in 1983, turning his attention to Imperial Trading, expanding its sales from $29 million to $1 billion today, with 4,000 retailers in nine states. Recent acquisitions by Georges Enterprises include: in September 2011 the $50 million food distributor Clifford D. Fite Company, $100 million Union Grocery in 2010 and the multi-million Harrison Company in 2008. In 2006, Imperial Vending merged with Whitener Snacks to become Refreshment Solutions, a Georges Enterprises subsidiary. Georges Enterprises’ AMA Distributors specialize in entertainment from videogames and pool tables to jukeboxes. Georges Enterprises’ portfolio of real estate holdings; among them are 25 acres of industrial real estate in the greater New Orleans area, including the site once occupied by Louisiana Film Studios. Georges Enterprises was previously very involved with marine services. However, Georges Enterprises sold its fleet of offshore tugs under Dolphin Marine International Company to concentrate on its food distribution business. The family of his wife, the former Dathel Coleman, owns cleanup company Oil Mop OMI. Georges purchased the 105-year old French/Creole restaurant Galatoire for $11 million. The menu specializes in seafood, especially local specialties like shrimp and soft-shelled crabs. Georges is very involved with both Louisiana public life and the community of The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, and was notable in post-Hurricane Katrina both at the University of New Orleans, as well as his own, and local churches. The former church president hosted Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew when he visited New Orleans in October 2009. A notable campaign financer, Georges spent millions to unsuccessfully run for governor twice, first as an independent candidate in post-Katrina in 2007, and again, as a Democrat, in 2010. He is a member of Tulane University’s President’s Council. Georges is a foundation member of the University of New Orleans and LSU Medical. He is on the World Trade Center Board of Directors, New Orleans Business Council, Jefferson Business Council, New Orleans Chamber of Council Board of Director. He has also chaired and been vice president of the Western Region of the Young Presidents Organization. He has chaired the Metairie Park Country Day School Recovery and been on the board of both Crimestoppers and the Young Leadership Council of New Orleans. He and his wife, Dathel, have three children: Zana, Liza, and John Jr. (Nike).