Birmingham Restaurant Supply, Inc. (Bresco) was founded in 1974 by George Tobia and a business partner. The company originally began operations by securing a small loan from a bank to purchase glassware and supplies from other local dealerships. Customers were promised same-day delivery. Word spread steadily, and Bresco’s customer base grew. Soon, many manufacturers began selling supplies directly to Bresco which improved our access to products, and the savings were passed on to customers. Additional loans helped procure more goods, warehouse space, and additional personnel to help with day-to-day management. In the early 1980’s, Tobia bought out his original business partner, and Bresco moved to a new location due to the lease expiring on the existing one. Times were tough, and Tobia doubled down, borrowing more money from the SBA to finance some large jobs and hire more key people.

In 1983, Bresco moved to its current facility on 6th Avenue South and 24th Street in what used to be Magic City Dodge. This phase was the early development of its Design / Build team. Finley Lackey was brought on board in what was predominately a sales role at the time, but he was also providing rough-ins for select contract jobs. Lackey left in 1985 to pursue a Food Service Facility Consulting business. He would later return as a full-time designer, bringing with him a wealth of experience as an independent consultant with engineering and construction credentials.

In 1989, Neil Ross entered the scene. Having many years’ experience in the food service industry as a General Manager and Executive Chef, Ross was not just a salesman, but someone who knew the features, benefits, and applications from real world experience. By the mid-1990s, Finley had returned to Bresco, and his and Neil’s combined skill sets proved to be a natural partnership for Design / Build. Over the years, the two professionals took the design build enterprise to independent local restaurants and large international projects alike.

By the mid-2000’s, Ross, Lackey and Bresco were really coming into their own with a full-fledged Design / Build department that was capable of servicing local independent restauranteurs, national chains, and international projects. Over the years, more experts and professionals have come on board, providing their knowledge and expertise, and creating a unique, curated experience for our customers.

Presently, Bresco operates as a complete food service equipment dealer/distributor that will take your commercial kitchen dream and make it a reality. Covering an entire city block in the heart of downtown Birmingham, Alabama, Bresco has multiple Food Service Kitchen & Operations Consultants, Seasoned CAD Designers, Project Managers, and Installers to ensure your needs and questions are expertly addressed at every step of the process.