Birmingham-based Buffalo Rock Company on Monday announced that its board of directors has voted to approve Matthew Dent as the company’s chief executive officer. This marks Dent the first CEO in the company’s 120-year history that is not a member of the Lee family.

According to a release, previous CEO Jimmy Lee III will continue to serve daily as executive chairman of Buffalo Rock. He will reportedly be involved at a strategic level with the company’s operations, while Dent will run and be responsible for the overall day-to-day performance of the venture.

Buffalo Rock is an independent Pepsi bottler based in Birmingham. Founded in 1901, the company in various markets has the territorial rights to Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, Sunkist, Aquafina, Sobe Lifewater, O.N.E., Propel, Gatorade, G2, Amp, Rockstar, Hawaiian Punch, Ocean Spray, Sobe, Fruit Shoot, Starbucks, Canada Dry, Lipton Teas and Maxwell House products.

Additionally, the company has its own staple brands: Buffalo Rock Ginger Ale, Grapico, Sunfresh and Dr. Wham, which is sold in territories that Buffalo Rock does not have the rights to Dr. Pepper. (more…)

Alabama-based beverage company Buffalo Rock announced today that it has filed suit against PepsiCo.

In a company statement, Buffalo Rock cited violation of franchise agreements and intrusion into exclusive territories as the events that precipitated the lawsuit.
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A local grocery store in Limestone County has banned Pepsi products featuring the NFL logo on them, as first reported by WAAY.

The owner of S & Z Grocery in Athens, Phillip Stewart, posted on Facebook Wednesday, saying, “I refuse to sell the product until the logo is removed.”

He added, “I will not bow down in order to … make a dollar as long as the athletes are allowed to bow down and disrespect the flag and country that I love.” (more…)