Our Story

Ralph Cowan, founder, started in the Manufacturer’s Representative world on January 2nd 1978. Previously he had been sales manager for a Hussmann distributor and in Real Estate for several years. Ralph grew up in the family florist business and had several shops of his own.

Two years later he would found Cowan Associates. Over the years this company would represent some of the best and well known manufacturers in their fields of restaurant equipment and furniture.

Ron Cowan joined his father in 1984 and they expanded the business continuing all aspects of the restaurant business and branching into Hospitality and Senior Care furniture.

Mike Cowan came with his Father and Brother in 2003 after college and working as a customer relations expert with a large corporation, receiving awards numerous times for his work.

Cowan Associates has handled many chain accounts over the years, most notable were the Applebee’s and Houlihans chains .  The Cowans did the entire bar package for Applebee’s Corporate and many of the franchisees for 20 years. This included helping with design, scheduling installations and being the service contact for stores in the United States. Part of this time we also represented their booth manufacturer and other manufacturers that were vendors they used. The bar package consisted of underbar, refrigeration and remote beer system.

The Houlihans bar package was the same type of equipment and service that was required for most all of the chain accounts. This was a 22 year relationship until we sold the bar portion of our business in 2013. In 2017 we went back in the bar business with equipment and furniture.

The Cowans were also the representatives involved with bar packages consisting of underbar, refrigeration and remote beer systems for The Kansas City Royals, The Kansas City Chiefs and Busch Stadium in St Louis. Casinos have played a part in their business for many years with equipment and furnishings.

Their business goal is to only represent products of the best quality with the most competitive prices to our dealers and their customers. Ralph says “If our dealers don’t like it, chances are we won’t either.”

If you are a manufacturer, dealer or an end user looking for professional products or services contact us, we like challenges.