Domenico Canale

Domenico 'Dominic' Canale (born in 1843), also known as D. Canale, was an Italian-American immigrant who founded the D. Canale & Co. distributorship in Memphis, Tennessee that became the largest distributor of produce throughout the Southern United States and the primary beer distributor for the Mid-South region.

Italian Heritage

Domenico was from San Pietro di Rovereto, a community within the municipality of Zoagli along the Italian Riviera, approximately 40 km southeast of Genoa. In 1866, Domenico saved up enough money to start up his own produce distribution business, "D. Canale & Co.," which grew considerably throughout the Southern United States as he imported fruits from around the world. Over many decades, it was the primary beer distributor for the Mid-South. D. Canale, a staple of the Mid-South economy for 144 years as one of the oldest businesses in Memphis, is now known as Hand Family Beverage dba Budweiser of Memphis. Monroe and Third (the first, opening May 8, 1924), Front and Washington, Curb Market, 1089 Union Av., 1645 Union Av., 183 S. Cooper, 1797 Walker Av. 295 E. McLemore, 1140 Mississippi, and 400 N. Waldran.